Bryan,

>From my notes at the White Bluffs, Grant County WA: On 9 October [1995]: "an
individual thought to be a Red-throated Pipit was heard overhead below
Coyote Rapids. A massive movement (300+) of American Pipits was tallied
today along this stretch of the Columbia River. Its call was distinct from
that of the abundant American Pipits, was as described by Roberson (Rare
Birds of the West Coast 1980: 339) -

"a penetrating wirey, thin 'speew' or 'pssss,' which lasts a full half
second, starting explosively and trailing off to an almost ultrasonic ending."

I heard this bird for several minutes, as it flew in circles 50 m above the
cobbles. It was pipit size, but I saw no plumage characters. I, of course,
give this sighting no more than hypothetical status, as it is an inland
report and only a "heard" bird, but this call note has intrigued me since
that day.

Interestingly, the Red-throated Pipits I heard on Gambell on St. Lawrence
Island off northwestern Alaska (where this species breeds in small numbers)
in late May this year did not sound that much different than our American
Pipits. I remember noting this to Kevin Zimmer who was tour leader on the
VENT trip that these Gambell birds were uttering a very American Pipit-like
call. He agreed. So I'm confused by what the literature and you say.

My question is this: are some call notes of the Red-throated similar to our
species?

Any more insight into pipit calls?

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA


>Another vagrant to watch for on the Olympic Peninsula. Today, Sept. 22,
>a bright, breeding-plumaged adult Red-throated Pipit, just the second
>record
>for s. Vancouver Island, was at Esquimalt Lagoon near Victoria, seen and
>"confirmed" by a number of good birders. (It still must be accepted by
>the
>Victoria Bird Records Committee, but there appears to be little doubt).
>Watch for it along the grassy and weedy fringes of beaches or fallow
>fields,
>and listen for its very high-pitched "Tseeep" or "Tseeep Tseeep Tseeep"
>call given occasionally as it flys...louder and sharper than the
>"pi-pit"
>call of American Pipits. It was secretive but approachable, and did not
>flush far when disturbed. It was not associating with other species.
>
>Watch for a Broad-winged Hawk and many Turkey Vultures on the Olympic
>Peninsula, as well. Today was a perfect day for these birds to cross
>Juan de
>Fuca Strait from the s. tip of Vancouver Island. Up to 400 TUVUs,
>possibly 2 Broad-wings, etc. were assembled at Rocky Point on Sept. 21.
>Good
>numbers were seen to soar extremely high today, on thermals over East
>Sooke
>Park, and head out over the water. They may have made it. I would
>appreciate any reports if more-than-usual numbers of Turkey Vultures are
>noted along the peninsula in the next day or so.
>
>Finally, a good, single-observer description of a possible winter
>plumaged adult Black-headed Gull, seen Sept. 21 in Oak Bay, near
>Victoria,
>associating with Bonaparte's Gulls. Look for red at the base of the
>bill,
>merging to blackish at the tip, a lighter mantle, slightly larger body
>and
>larger bill than the "bonies".
>
>Good luck.
>
>Bryan Gates, Victoria bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca
>Victoria Rare Bird Alert (604) 592-3381
>Note that the Area Code will change from (604) to (250) on October 19,
>1996.
>