Water Pipit and Snow Bunting

A couple of short trips to round off this week in Weymouth.

First up, prompted by a record on Birdguides of three Water Pipits, was the north viewpoint at Radipole. Over the decades this location has had a range of habitat-types; ponds, scrapes, and a range of seating arrangements; today (20th) I sat in the open viewing area, looking through screens at a large open area of cut reed-bed. There were patches of water on the ground so I felt confident as I scanned across I would see three Water Pipits picking round the edge. Inevitably they weren't there. The compensation was two Stonechats, and then a couple of Marsh Harriers with 5 Swallows flying through. And as always here just loads and loads of Mediterranean Gull. Must be 1000+ in Weymouth at the moment

As I was getting ready to go there was a thin tseep and a pipit dropped into vegetation in front of the viewing area. A scope view revealed it was indeed a Water Pipit. Excellent! I had a good look as I experienced some difficulty with pipit ID at Titchwell; normally location-based ID works well for Rock/Water Pipit but the flock at Titchwell had me thoroughly confused; do two half-Water-Pipits make a whole one? This one was front on, but still showed a supercilium equally split fore and aft the eye, nice strong streaking round the throat, and well marked white wing stripes. Fantastic.

Then on 22nd a walk round Portland Bill where a Snow Bunting had been reported. Two photographers concentrating on a spot below the path did indeed turn out to be photographing a Snow Bunting, very good views too. They mentioned another Snow Bunting higher up by the huts. I went up there and found another photographer focussing on a flat area below the path by an old quarry. I scanned and saw nothing, so enquired and it was indeed the second Snow Bunting actively feeding in some low vegetation! 

I managed a sighting of Rock Pipit and checked the absence of eye stripe and lack of white wing bars, but I know from experience there is some variety. And indeed Water Pipit had been seen here recently by local top birder Joe Stockwell.  And finally Clouded Yellows still around, seven in total including a couple of the Helice form. Smashing.