More from Denhall Lane

American Buff-bellied Pipit 1
Siberian Chiffchaff 2
Common Chiffchaff 1
Wheatear 1
Merlin 1
Fieldfare 20
Stonechat 4
Raven 2

Whatever your views of twitching a rare pipit, not once but three times over Christmas, including getting there for first light on Christmas morning itself, it's surely hard to deny that the general birding at Burton Marsh and more specifically Denhall Lane is better than anywhere in the North West at the moment, and it's just a pleasure to be there.

Not only do we have an American pipit sharing the place with a couple of Siberian Chiffchaffs, they are also in the unlikely company of the latest ever Wheatear in Cheshire by some 32 days, and a Common Chiffchaff! Add to that the usual saltmarsh birds, including Pink-footed geese flying over, Merlin hunting the small stuff, flocks of Lapwings and Teal, Stonechats, Little Egrets fishing, Curlew calling, and the anticipation of a passing Hen Harrier or  Great White Egret, both of which are in the vicinity, and it's easy to see why on a beautiful sunny winters day, to the accompaniment of cackling Fieldfares, the lure of Denhall Lane is too much to resist, however many times I've been recently.

Today, at the third attempt I finally got the prolonged, close views I have yearned of the American Buff-bellied Pipit. I saw it between 8:45 and 9:30, then it went missing for nearly three hours, before returning to the tidal wrack at the end of Station Road and showing very well in the excellent sunlight, and it was still showing when I left at about 13:00. It's actually a cracking little bird, and easily separable from Meadow Pipit, in fact it's much more like a Water Pipit.

The Wheatear might be the latest in Cheshire by 32 days, but it's my latest by just one day, having previously seen one over Christmas a few years ago near Scarborough.

Still not going to win any awards, but this is my best and favourite photo of the American Buff-bellied Pipit. I particularly like its open-faced appearance in this picture. It has this friendly appearance because unlike Water Pipit, which is very similar, Buff-bellied Pipit has pale lores (i.e. the area between the eye and the bill). Water Pipit has dark lores, and this gives it a more aggressive appearance, almost like it's frowning. This is one of the key identification features which makes this an ABBP. Notice also the small bill compared to Water Pipit.

Here it is alongside a Meadow Pipit. Don't be fooled by people who tell you to look for a bird which is paler than Meadow Pipit. To my eyes it's darker.

A few other things to note - 1) it is much greyer than the Meadow Pipit which appears brown, 2) compare the mantle (back) of each bird. Meadow Pipit is very streaky, ABBP is much less streaky and is largely dark grey, 3) Look at the two wing bars on the ABBP. Meadow Pipit has pale wing bars, but they are nowhere near so pronounced, 4) Not particularly obvious on this photo, but the ABBP has a much more pronounced supercilium and moustacial stripe. Dare I say that you can even see the ABBP's buff belly on this and the next photo?

This photo shows the birds mantle quite nicely. Dark grey and only lightly patterned (definitely not streaked like Meadow Pipit).

The dark, triangular malar patch (below the moustacial stripe on the side of the throat) shows up well on this photo. This is one of several features on this bird which has led some people to question if it is actually Anthus rubescens japonicas, or Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit rather than American Buff-bellied Pipit. SBBP is sometimes considered a separate species and would be a first for Britain if confirmed. Other features which point towards SBBP include the exceptionally white wing bars, (usually not quite so white on ABBP). Is it a coincidence that there are two Siberian Chiffchaffs on the same tidal wrack???

Siberian Chiffchaff. There's actually a second bird to the right of the obvious one, but only its leg is in focus!

Fieldfare sunning itself.

Looking back towards Denhall Lane from the track to Decca Pools. I've never seen it so busy. Apart from the birders there was a constant stream of cyclists and about 30 ramblers went past.

Decca Pools with Moel Famau in the background.