Puzzler

A thrash around the patch today brought the PC list to 72 with a yaffling Green Woodpecker in the wood the first for a couple of years. Having sorted through 400+ Black headed Gulls for a Med I decided to take a closer look at the Meadow Pipits for a Water Pipit which had been reported toward the end of last year. A clean individual soon came to attention as the flock were moved from the ground onto a fence. Nice clean belly and looks like white sides to the tail however no obvious supercillium.

On the ground however despite standing out from the other pipits the clean belly was less apparent and nothing like the Druridge bird I saw earlier in the month but it appears to have a supercillium and the high shoulder I remember noting up at Druridge.

Anyway I can't make a decision so number 73 will have to wait for tomorrow. 52 species today which is a good winter count for the patch with big gulls notably absent. Missing from January Tawny Owl, Jay and Curlew and I apparently missed a Marsh Harrier. A flock of 70 Greylag flew over west from Big Waters and I just know that Tundra Bean Goose was among them but they kept going so here's waiting.