Pechora Pipit
Anthus gustavi Swinhoe, 1863 (4, 2)
Photo © Phil Woollen - Fair Isle, 20 October 2016
STATUS
Central and Eastern Palearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
A number of previously accepted records from Shetland/Fair Isle were reviewed by the authors of The Birds of Shetland (Pennington et al. 2004) and found to be not proven.
RECORDS
1). 1925 Fair Isle Gaila, male, 23rd to 24th September when shot, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1925.166).
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 45: 141-142; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 20: 11-12; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 46: 71; BOURC (1930), Ibis 72: 244; Thom, 1986; Dymond, 1991; J. A. Stout, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1999: 23).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1925) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLV. pp. 141-142, says: 'While on a visit to Fair Isle this autumn, I obtained, on 24th September, an example of the Petchora Pipit (Anthus gustavi Swinhoe).
It was flushed from the edge of a patch of turnips and settled on a stook of oats nearby, where it was shot. On the previous day it had been flushed from the same place and settled on the same stook, but flew off whilst being examined through binoculars. On neither occasion did I hear it make any sound, but one of the islanders, James Stout, who was with me on both days when the bird was flushed and who has a keen ear for notes, stated that he watched it early on the morning of the 24th in another patch of oat stubble, and that when disturbed it flew off, uttering a treble note not unlike that of the Meadow Pipit but softer and lower.
Its measurements (in millimetres) in the flesh were: - Wing, 81; Tail, 53; Tarsus, 23.5; Bill from feathers, 11; Bill from gape, 17; Hind claw, 11; Hind toe, 10. The legs and feet were pale pink, the "flesh pink" of Ridgway's Colour Standards, Pl. XIII.; the bill dark horn above, below pale pink at the base with a dark tip; the iris very dark brown, and the inside of the mouth pale flesh. The stomach contained insect remains, chiefly those of a tiny black beetle.
This is the first recorded occurrence of this Pipit in the British Isles, and, as far as I can ascertain, in Europe outside of Russia....The specimen obtained is a male and probably a bird of the year, the throat being slightly spotted.
The distinguishing characteristics of this species are well marked: the buffish white stripes on each side of the back; the buffish white tips to the median and greater wing coverts; the streaked rump; the slightly curved hind claw which is just appreciably longer than the hind toe; the wing emarginate on the 2nd and 3rd visible primaries (in the left wing the 4th primary shows a faint trace of emargination - this is not present in the right wing); whilst the culmen is not quite straight, being slightly sunk in front of the line of the nostrils. In the field the bird has a much greyer look than the Tree Pipit, which it approaches closely in size.
Dr. Eagle Clarke has examined the skin and has compared it with specimens in the Royal Scottish Museum, and entirely agrees with the identification. The bird has been presented to the Royal Scottish Museum, and will be mounted and placed on exhibition there.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 71, in the annual report.
H. F. Witherby (1927) in British Birds, Vol. XX. pp. 11-12, says: 'In the Scottish Naturalist, 1925, pp. 141-2, Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse announces that on September 24th, 1925, at Fair Isle (Shetland), he obtained a Pipit, which proved to be a male example of the Petchora Pipit.'
Admitted nationally in their Seventh List Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1930) Ibis 72: 244).
James A. Stout (1999) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 23, says: 'One morning I had been down to the Haa early, and I had heard, a strange note amongst the pipits, so I called on Stenhouse and on our return we finally located my bird north of the chapel. We followed it along to where there were stooks of corn before Houll, and it was on one of these stooks that Stenhouse shot it. On picking it up he said it could be a Pechora.'
2). 1928 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 9th October, now at National Museums of Scotland.
(N. B. Kinnear, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 49: 57-58; J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 49: 9; Eds., British Birds 22: 330; BOU (1930), Ibis 72: 244; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History N. B. Kinnear, Editor (1929) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLIX. pp. 57-58, at the 324th Meeting of the Club held on 9th January 1929 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Dr. Ernst Hartert exhibited a second specimen from Fair Isle of Anthus gustavi Swinhoe, the so-called Petchora Pipit. It was shot on Fair Isle by G. Stout on October 9 of last year, and it is interesting in that the collector said it must be a Petchora Pipit before the bird was retrieved, as its note differed from the notes of all other Pipits occurring on Fair Isle. The second specimen, a male, belongs to the Royal Scottish Museum, and was sent for exhibition by Dr. Stenhouse.' [The first occurrence of this Pipit in the British Isles was in 1925, when Admiral Stenhouse obtained a male on September 24, also on Fair Isle. - Ed.]
J. H. Stenhouse (1929) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIX. p. 9, says: 'During last autumn there was very little migration at Fair Isle. I spent three weeks on the island, from 15th September to 4th October....Later, on the 9th [October], a male Petchora Pipit (Anthus gustavi) was secured, the second record of this bird's occurrence in the British Isles, in fact in Western Europe....For the records after 4th October I am indebted to Mr. George Stout, Field, Fair Isle, who has forwarded the birds mentioned to the Royal Scottish Museum.'
In an Editorial (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. p. 330, they say: 'At the January, 1929, meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, Dr. E. Hartert exhibited a male of Anthus gustavi which had been shot at Fair Isle (Shetland) on October 9th, 1928, by Mr. George Stout (Bull. B.O.C., XLIX. p. 57).
The bird is now in the Royal Scottish Museum and had been sent for exhibition by Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse, who also records it in the Scottish Naturalist, January-February, 1929, p. 9.
This is the second recorded occurrence of the species in the British Isles, the first having also been taken at Fair Isle on September 24th, 1925 (vide antea, Vol. XX. p. 11).'
Admitted nationally in their Seventh List Report (BOURC (1930) Ibis 72: 244).
3). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 18th September.
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 51: 46; Eds., British Birds 25: 26; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1931) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LI. pp. 45-46, says: 'At Fair Isle notes were taken during the period by Mr. George Stout, and it is from his diary, which has been forwarded to me, that the following details have been extracted....The capture of a Petchora Pipit on 27th October has already been recorded in the Scottish Naturalist (1930, p. 188), but it is stated that a Petchora Pipit was both seen and "heard" on 18th September, and that when the example was secured on 27th October there were two or three on the island. It seems as if the bird (whose call-note is quite distinctive) comes much more frequently to Western Europe than has been suspected, and there is no doubt whatever, that, from its resemblance to other Pipits, it is easily overlooked.'
In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 26, they say: 'A female was obtained at Fair Isle on October 27th, 1930 (J. Wilson, Scot. Nat., 1930, p. 188). This is the third occurrence since it was first discovered at Fair Isle in 1925, and in commenting on this the late J. H. Stenhouse states (1931, p. 46) that a Petchora Pipit was stated to have been both seen and heard on September 18th, and that there were two or three on the island on October 27th. It is entirely probable that the bird occurs in western Europe more often than is suspected and that it is overlooked. At Fair Isle, the distinctive note of the bird is now known.'
4). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, female, shot, 27th October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.
(J. Wilson, Scottish Naturalist 50: 188; Eds., British Birds 25: 26; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History Jerome Wilson of Fair Isle (1930) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. L. p. 188, says: 'On 27th October a female example of the Petchora Pipit (Anthus gustavi), was obtained here.'
[It has been forwarded to the British Museum, London. - Eds.]
In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 26, they say: 'A female was obtained at Fair Isle on October 27th, 1930 (J. Wilson, Scot. Nat., 1930, p. 188). This is the third occurrence since it was first discovered at Fair Isle in 1925, and in commenting on this the late J. H. Stenhouse states (1931, p. 46) that a Petchora Pipit was stated to have been both seen and heard on September 18th, and that there were two or three on the island on October 27th. It is entirely probable that the bird occurs in western Europe more often than is suspected and that it is overlooked. At Fair Isle, the distinctive note of the bird is now known.'
1950-57 RECORDS
5). 1952 Fair Isle Schoolton and Quoy, 16th to 18th October, when hit wires, now at National Museums Scotland.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (9): 24-27; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 211-212; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 424).
History K. Williamson (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 211-212, says: 'October 16th-18th. This small, dark brown bird proved so great a skulker that neither Edward Skinner nor I were able to get a single satisfactory view of it during several encounters spread over the three days.
It haunted the depths of two neighbouring cabbage-patches, going from one to the other each time it was disturbed. Our only brief view of it in the open was obtained late on the 16th and the suggestion of a buffish stripe down the mantle contrasting with the dark brown upper parts, plus the fact that whitish outer tail-feathers had already been seen when the bird flew, led us to suspect a Petchora Pipit.
This provisional identification was confirmed on the following morning by James Wilson, who has seen and heard the species on previous occasions. The bird had the misfortune to fly into telephone wires on the 18th, and the skin is now in the Royal Scottish Museum.
If our experience of the shy behaviour of this bird is a fair criterion (and James Wilson and James A. Stout agree that it is) then the only field-character of any value is the quite distinctive call-note.
The Handbook, Vol. I. p. 202, says that this is not unlike the call of the Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) "but is softer and noticeably lower in key". This, I feel, is too indefinite, for the note is entirely individual and not at all like that of any other pipit that I am familiar with. It is a strong, hard, forceful call, and the nearest rendering I can get is a sharp "pwit", uttered perhaps once only, but more often several times in rapid succession as the bird rises. The pitch is certainly low, and the voice lacks sweetness or richness of tone. It is a singularly unattractive call, but absolutely diagnostic.
There have been about a dozen occurrences of this elusive bird in western Europe, all of them at Fair Isle. It is interesting to record that the present example, like the one which James Wilson saw on October 2nd, 1951, coincided with the peak movement of Northern Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita subsp.) through the isle.'
6). 1953 Fair Isle Haa, 18th September; same, Shirva, 19th September; same, Reevas, 21st to 22nd September.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 118-119; K. Williamson, British Birds 47: 299; R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 47: 425).
History K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. II. pp. 118-119, says: 'A pipit with an unfamiliar call-note attracted the attention of J.W. at the Haa on the afternoon of September 18th; he and W. Conn had good views of it and thought it might be this species. Next day a single pipit flew over our heads at Shirva with the loud, clear and quite unmistakeable "pwit" call-note which I recognised as belonging to A. gustavi.
What was almost certainly the same bird was seen again by the same party, with the addition of R. Burn, J. Webb, Andrew Macmillan and M. F. M. Meiklejohn, near the Reevas on 21st-22nd. The finely streaked head and twin buffish-white lines down the mantle were well seen.'
K. Williamson (1954) in British Birds, Vol. XLVII. p. 299, says: 'A pipit with an unfamiliar call attracted the attention of John Wightman and W. Conn at the Haa on the afternoon of September 18th: they had good views of it, and thought it might be this species. Next day a single pipit flew over our heads in another part of the crofting area with the loud, clear and quite unmistakable "pwit" call-note which I recognized as belonging to the Petchora Pipit (antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 211).
What was almost certainly the same bird was again seen by the same party, with the addition of R. Burn, J. Webb, A. MacMillan and M. F. M. Meiklejohn in the same area on 21st and 22nd. The finely-streaked head and twin buffish-white lines down the mantle were well seen.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1930 Fair Isle No localities, two/three, seen, 27th October.
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 51: 46; Eds., British Birds 25: 26; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History J. H. Stenhouse (1931) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LI. pp. 45-46, says: 'At Fair Isle notes were taken during the period by Mr. George Stout, and it is from his diary, which has been forwarded to me, that the following details have been extracted....The capture of a Petchora Pipit on 27th October has already been recorded in the Scottish Naturalist (1930, p. 188), but it is stated that a Petchora Pipit was both seen and "heard" on 18th September, and that when the example was secured on 27th October there were two or three on the island. It seems as if the bird (whose call-note is quite distinctive) comes much more frequently to Western Europe than has been suspected, and there is no doubt whatever, that, from its resemblance to other Pipits, it is easily overlooked.'
In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 26, they say: 'A female was obtained at Fair Isle on October 27th, 1930 (J. Wilson, Scot. Nat., 1930, p. 188). This is the third occurrence since it was first discovered at Fair Isle in 1925, and in commenting on this the late J. H. Stenhouse states (1931, p. 46) that a Petchora Pipit was stated to have been both seen and heard on September 18th, and that there were two or three on the island on October 27th. It is entirely probable that the bird occurs in western Europe more often than is suspected and that it is overlooked. At Fair Isle, the distinctive note of the bird is now known.'
0). 1931 Fair Isle No locality, seen, late August.
(G. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 52: 38; Eds., British Birds 26: 27; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History George Stout of Fair Isle (1932) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LII. p. 38, says: 'We did not have many birds on Fair Isle this autumn, owing to too much westerly wind, but I observed a few unusual visitors....I observed two Petchora Pipits, one late in August and one towards the end of September.'
In an Editorial (1932) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. p. 27, they say: 'Mr. George Stout (Scot. Nat., 1932, p. 38) states - Other rare birds recorded are: a Petchora Pipit (Anthus gustavi) late in August and another towards the end of September (unfortunately no exact dates are given).'
Comment This record is now considered to be unsafe due to the arrival date, which hasn't any parallel in recent years, despite the increase in sightings. Not acceptable.
0). 1931 Fair Isle No locality, seen, late September.
(G. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 52: 38; Eds., British Birds 26: 27; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History George Stout of Fair Isle (1932) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LII. p. 38, says: 'We did not have many birds on Fair Isle this autumn, owing to too much westerly wind, but I observed a few unusual visitors....I observed two Petchora Pipits, one late in August and one towards the end of September.'
In an Editorial (1932) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. p. 27, they say: 'Mr. George Stout (Scot. Nat., 1932, p. 38) states - Other rare birds recorded are: a Petchora Pipit (Anthus gustavi) late in August and another towards the end of September (unfortunately no exact dates are given).'
0). 1935 Fair Isle No locality, 28th August.
(Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History Pennington et al. (2004) say: 'This record is now considered to be unsafe due to the arrival date, which hasn't any parallel in recent years, despite the increase in sightings.'
0). 1936 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 19th November.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 57: 74; Eds., British Birds 31: 124; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History G. Waterston (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 74, under 'Bird Notes from Fair Isle, 1936', says: 'G.S.[tout] who knows this species well, obtained good views of one on 19th November 1936, which had assumed winter plumage "with the white stripes showing clear down the back".'
In an Editorial (1937) in British Birds, Vol. XXXI. p. 124, they say: 'Mr. George Waterston gives an account of a number of interesting birds observed at Fair Isle in 1936 (Scot. Nat., 1937, pp. 73-76). The more important of these are as follows: - Petchora Pipit, one seen by G. Stout on November 19th.'
Comment This record is now considered to be unsafe due to the arrival date, which hasn't any parallel in recent years, despite the increase in sightings (Pennington per comms.). Since 2004, a Pechora Pipit stayed in Pembrokeshire during 19th to 23rd November, 2007. Not acceptable.
0). 1940 Fair Isle No locality, seen, September.
(G. Waterston, British Birds 38: 228; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History G. Waterston (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 228, under 'Notes from Fair Isle, 1939-45', says: 'Pechora Pipit - One seen in September, 1940. G.S.' It was accepted nationally by Baxter & Rintoul (1953).
However, in a review of all Shetland records (Pennington et al. 2004) this record was found to be unacceptable.
Comment G.S. = George Stout, an islander. Not acceptable.
0). 1951 Fair Isle No locality, 2nd October.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (5): 5; K. Williamson, British Birds 45: 231).
[Pennington et al., 2004; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 463].
History K. Williamson (1951) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (V). p. 5, and (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 231, says: 'James Wilson who has previous experience of this species at Fair Isle reported one on October 2nd.'
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable.
