Apologies for this late posting, trouble accessing the message board, had to re-register.

I had a Richard’s Pipit while doing my WeBS count on Sutton Moor early on Wednesday pm, and still present in the area yesterday. On Wednesday it was viewable from Suttonmoor Drove at ST4430 3355, in the south-east part of the long field north of the drove, 50 to 100m from the drove and staying within ~30m of the ditch on the east side of the field. It remained for the best part of ann hour, when I left the area. Apparently it could not be found when look for later in the afternoon.

Returning to the area yesterday I saw it 600m south-west of Wednesday’s location. It came up from the south side of Suttonmor Drove (at approx ST439 331, not sure which side of the ditch it had been), calling, and flew north-east. I lost it behind a tree, so I don’t know where it landed. I spent another 2 hours in the area but didn’t re-find it.

While it could be a short-staying migrant, the two locations are c500m south and c1km south-south-west of where I flushed a Richard’s Pipit on my WeBS visit back in February. It seems likely this is the same individual returning. If so, it should stick around, albeit with a large expanse of suitable habitat to range around.

For anyone looking for this bird, anywhere along Suttonmoor Drove is worth checking, including the northward extension at the east end, which leads to the fields where I saw it in Feb. Middle Drove also worth checking, running north from half-way along Suttonmoor Drove.

Quickest access is via Henley Corner (note - road to here from west was due to be closed until Monday 18th), walk north, cross the River Cary, continue north on Pedwell Drove for 200m, then take Suttonmoor Drove running north-east on the right.

Cheers,

Dave