April 2nd 2007. Santa Cruz Flats, Pinal County, AZ.
American Pipit Anthus rubescens. Partly leucistic individual.

About 200 American Pipits were on the large sod fields at the intersection of Tweedy and Pretzer Roads this afternoon. Amongst them was this near white-headed bird which jumped out from the rest like a sore thumb. Although I've seen something similar in Yellow Wagtails in Israel, I don't recall seeing any partly leucistic pipits of any kind, anywhere. Interesting bird.

Also this afternoon in the same area, Swainson's and Ferruginous Hawks, 2 Black Vultures, 40+ Long-billed Curlews, 3 Burrowing Owls, 5 Sage and 1 Bendire's Thrashers, 60+ Horned Larks, 20+ Lark and 3+ Vesper Sparrows and many others. The Mountain Plovers which we saw so well on March 1st had presumably migrated north.

Images taken using Canon Powershot A540 hand held through Swarovski HD telescope.

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