Pipits, turnstones and red knots

Sometimes, it is difficult even for experienced birdwatchers to see whether a bird belongs to a certain species; or to another, closely related species.

Here we have a photo, 20 October 2013, of a pipit on a sand dune near the southern jetty of IJmuiden in the Netherlands. Is this is a meadow pipit? Or a rock pipit? As most photos show rock pipits as having dark legs, and this photo shows a bird with pinkish legs: one might think: meadow pipit. However, on some photos, some rock pipits have pinkish legs as well … Rock pipits are specialized birds of coastal habitats like there in IJmuiden … but meadow pipits come there as well. So, not an easy issue, meadow pipit or rock pipit.

O yes, before arriving in IJmuiden, we had to go there first. On a Schiphol airport fence, two buzzards. A great cormorant on a lamppost. Hundreds of northern lapwings flying to the south.

In IJmuiden, house sparrows and herring gulls.

A great crested grebe swimming near the beginning of the jetty.

Then, the meadow? pipit mentioned already, here on another dune photo.

Turnstones on the rocks.

Someone speaks about seeing harbour porpoises swim.

A black-headed gull. A lesser black-backed gull.

Then, on the southern side of the jetty, a male and a female mallard. They have company: turnstones.

And two red knots in non-red winter plumage.

Stay tuned for more IJmuiden birds.

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