Over the Christmas period Will Bowell and I went in search of Water Pipits at Baston Fen NR. Josh Jones had found one at the 'wader pit' of the Baston and Langtoft complex and we thought that the flooding around Baston Fen looked even more suitable. We walked the edge of the flood and eventually flushed three Water Pipits, a local find tick for Will. A couple of weekends ago, I returned and, in high winds, found at least one Water Pipit feeding with a flock of Meadow Pipits, on the edge of the now greatly enlarged flood.
Last week, Dave Roberts found that there were at least seven Water Pipits at the site, so on Saturday, WIll and I went to pay our respects. Almost as soon as we got there, a heron flew across and flushed a flock of 12-15 pipits from near the path. We binned them and were surprised that they all looked similar and some of them were definitely Water Pipits. Luckily they landed again along the edge of the flood and we could scope them. We soon realised that all the birds we were lookign at were Water Pipits, with no visible Meadows. We confirmed at least 12 Water Pipits, which was more than I have ever seen together in the UK, let alone the PBC area (my previous high count was seven on the Nene Washes).
I went back yesterday and saw at least eight WPs feeding in great light and occasionally perching in a bare tree, showing very well. These photos don't do justice to the birds or the views; they really are lovely little things and strangely delightful for such nondescript LBJs...
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