FIKKERT C (2013) Skillful fishing by a Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta. LIMOSA 86 (2): 88-90.

On January 24th 2013 a Water Pipit was seen fishing on the edge of a 2 m2 ice-hole near Kampen, Overijssel. Within 45 minutes the bird caught 16 small fish, with a length of about 4 cm each. At least three species were recognized: Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis, Sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus and Nine- spined Stickleback Pungitius pungitius. The rest consisted of cyprinid fish Cyprinidae. Seven fishes were rapidly molested and eaten by the Water Pipit. Shaking the eyes out and eating these first, then ripping the head off and consuming the rest of the body hardly took a minute per fish. The other nine fishes were discarded immediately, without handling. Despite this apparent proficiency which might indicate experience, this seems to be the first documented record of a fishing Water Pipit. The species is known to take a wide variety of prey, mainly invertebrates but also plant food items. The amount of fish eaten was extraordinary. The water pipit had the whole ice-hole to itself, with hundreds of small fish at the surface gasping for air. It was estimated that the bird consumed about 5 g of fresh fish in 45 minutes, a fifth to a quarter of its own body mass. Each fish would contain about 138 mg of dry matter, while the species' more usual animal prey items have a dry mass of about 4 mg on average.

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