Interesting Pete that they are common in the Pyrenees as I also read (could've been same article that I mentioned below) that Water Pipits are most commonly found in mountainous regions whereas the subspecies Rock Pipit is usually found a lot lower to sea level and mainly coastal. I was browsing my "Hamlyn Guide to Birds of Britain, Europe and North Africa" last night that one of my Aunties bought me for my 8th Birthday back in 1979, it was the Collins of that era and was only £2.75. Interesting how that even says Water Pipit as the species and Rock Pipit as the subspecies. You learn something everyday in this hobby!
Just seen this thread as I've been away,Water Pipits were regular at Sale Water Park in the 80s,mainly after Broad Ees Dole reserve was created,Ive seen double figure nos of birds there in the past.The birds could be found on the wet marshy area,along the ditches,occasionally on the lakes edge,and also along the edge of The River Mersey between Jacksons Boat and canal/railway bridges.The birds seem to stop using the area very early in the 90s even though there didn't appear to be any substantial change to the habitat to cause them to leave,I'm certain other factors caused the the loss of birds.The other place I regulary watched which also held double figure numbers of birds was Ringley Sewage Works where the birds wintered on the "maturing" sludge beds.Unfortunately due to changes in sewage disposal practices the beds stopped receiving fresh sludge and got overgrown,and were abandoned by the pipits again in the very early 90s. This was obviously due to habitat loss.I'm certain they were present at other sewage works in the county at the same time,but again change in practices of sewage disposal took away their wintering areas.I seem to remember the pipits used to arrive mid/late October just after I used to get back from The Scillies and disappear mid April at the latest by which time some of the males were in stonking breeding plumage. Co-incidentaly I've just come back from a few days birding in the French Pyrenees where Water Pipits are the commonest bird up near the snow line,you could see up to 10 birds from one spot feeding on the fresh exposed ground as the snow melted,and even pecking around on the top of the snow!
I read some of this article last week Alex and there is another one a lot earlier that suggested the differences between the 'then' unsplit Rock and Water Pipits were well noted and begs the question why did it take until the mid-80's to finally do it?
I would assume its change in habitat rather than population declines in this case - at least on their wintering grounds Water Pipits tend to frequent the edges of extensive marshes and water bodies with very limited tree cover and little emergent vegetation, so they don't hang around as vegetative succession takes over. Some of the habitat out on the mosses looks ostensibly good for them however. BB paper on Water/Rock taxonomy: https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V81/V81_N05/V81_N05_P206_211_A051.pdf
I spoke to a few guys on Saturday on the SBS trip who remembered when Water Pipits were regular at Sale WP. They used to be at the foot of an electricity pylon apparently, although there seem to be 3 of those around the edge of the lake so not sure which one. In any event they were saying that the habitat has changed significantly since the early 90s. I imagine this is true of Hope Carr too.
Anyone who knows me knows I love a good theory. If you read the Wikipedia page for Sale WP it talks about the site opening in 1979 and significant work going on to create the Broad Ees Dole area which opened in 1987, but presumably had taken a while. Meanwhile in the sightings posted below, the numbers of Water Pipit fell off a cliff in 1985. I wonder if there is any connection there between the work to create the scrapes and the impact on the habitat that had been very suitable for the pipits?
I recall seeing Water Pipits on Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve, Sale Water Park and on Hope Carr Nature Reserve in the 1989-1991 era! What has changed since then regarding this species? Has the habitat changed or numbers of this species visiting Northern England?
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Thanks for this Alex. I had thought about Mr Hines as someone who might have some good memories on this subject. The article said the split from Rock Pipit was in 1986, so if that was a formal BOU split maybe it was adopted earlier by other taxonomies?
Brilliant photos of a Water Pipit from the weekend made me think about how often this species is seen in GM; it is quite a rarity I think or at least a scarcity. Coincidentally I have been reading through a collection of Birdwatch Magazines from the early years of publication. Looking at one from 1993, there is an article about where to find Water Pipit in the winter bearing in mind the species had only been split from Rock Pipit a few years before. Anyway, the article mentions various locations and included Neston, which I expected, but it stated that the premier site in the North West is Sale Water Park, and Hope Carr NR is emerging too.
A lot has changed in 25 years then! it would be great to hear memories from any guys who were birding back then; I can't even imagine any good habitat around Sale WP apart from maybe the meadows on the other side of the river by the tramline
