Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta

Local status: Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

This species was formally split from Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus, in 1987 and all records identified specifically have been since that year. Separation of this taxon from Rock Pipits of the Scandinavian subspecies littoralis is not easy and caution should be exercised especially during spring passage when some littoralis birds attain a bright spring plumage recalling Water Pipit. Spring passage in April is the best time to look for this species, as birds head back south and east towards their breeding grounds in Europe. The August record from Melbourne in 1994 falls well outside of the normal passage period and seems unlikely.

Records:
2023: Bubwith Ings, 3rd & 6th December. one
2023: Wheldrake Ings, 4th April. one
2022: Wheldrake Ings, 23rd October. one

Water Pipit Wheldrake Ings 23 October 2022 © Duncan Bye
Water Pipit Wheldrake Ings 23 October 2022 © Duncan Bye

2022: North Duffield Carrs, 22nd February, two
2022: Hagg Bridge, 4th to 9th January. one to two
2021: Thornton Ellers, 10th May. one
2020: Seavy Carr, 15th March. two
2020: Thornton Ings, 13th to 24th March, one to three

Water Pipit Town Ings 15th March 2020 ©Jono Leadley
Water Pipit Town Ings 15th March 2020 ©Jono Leadley

2017: Rufforth, 17th & 21st November. one
2017: Bank Island, 15th April. one
2013: North Duffield Carrs, 6th to 7th May.
2012: Seavy Carr, 5th March. Trapped.
2011: Heslington East, 10th and presumably same 15th to 17th April.
2010: Heslington East, 21st April. Two.
2007-08: Catterton, 27th November 2007 to 8th March 2008.
2007: North Duffield Carrs, 8th January.
2006: Wheldrake Ings, 24th to 31st December.
2006: North Duffield Carrs, 28th January.
2005: Strensall, 20th and 23rd March.
2004: North Duffield Carrs, 9th to 19th March.
2003: North Duffield Carrs, 12th January.
2001: Ellerton, 2nd October.
2000: North Duffield Carrs, 13th February. Wheldrake Ings, 19th February.
1999: Wheldrake Ings, 19th December.
1999: Wheldrake Ings, 16th and 17th January.
1996: Thornton, 8th April (possibly same as Bank Island bird the same day).
1996: Wheldrake Ings, 3rd to 5th April, presumably the same individual at Bank Island on the 8th.
1995: Rawcliffe Lake, 15th May.
1994: Melbourne, 28th August.
1994: Thorganby, 22nd April.
1993: Bank Island, 19th May. Two.
1990: North Duffield Carrs, 13th May.
1989: Wheldrake Ings, 1st to 8th April.
1988: North Duffield Carrs, 5th April.
1987: Aughton, 17th April (possibly same as the North Duffield Carrs bird).
1987: North Duffield Carrs, 8th April.
1981: Naburn Sewage Works, 15th December to the year-end.