American Pipit on a large wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’ve been hearing American Pipits since around the end of September but so far this year I haven’t been able to photograph even one of these birds. Either I can’t get close to them soon enough to take high quality images of them or they have been too far away. I love hearing their soft calls while they are on the wing though and sometimes that is enough for me.
Last year I was able to take several photos of this American Pipit at Farmington Bay WMA as it perched on a large wooden post and a few more when it took off and then landed on a barbed wire fence.
In North America we call these birds American Pipits. In Europe and Asia they are called Buff-bellied Pipits.
American Pipits do breed in Utah yet I rarely see them during their breeding season. I often see and hear large flocks of these pipits during fall and spring migration plus a few that stick around through the coldest months of winter.
American Pipit with a raised foot – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This American Pipit was photographed in October of 2019 at Farmington Bay WMA. I had quite a few of these pipits in my viewfinder that morning.
I have been hoping to have a few American Pipits in my viewfinder when I have gone to Bear River MBR and Farmington Bay WMA this fall but so far I’ve had to enjoy them from a distance. Another great place to find and photograph American Pipits in northern Utah during the fall is on the rocks and shoreline of the Great Salt Lake from the causeway to Antelope Island. The last time I was out on the island I saw and heard pipits but I was unable to stop and photograph them.
I adore the way these pipits bob their tails up and down almost continuously as they walk around on the ground. That makes me giggle too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Pipit photos plus facts and information about this species.
I do love it when you include the calls of these (exotic to me) birds. Many thanks.
I know there are American Pipits in the Niagara area but I have yet to see one or even hear one. I am so looking forward to my first sighting of one.