[Birdtalk] Longspur Pictures

[Tim Avery]

I am posting this quick before I do my write up for the day, but here are shots of the Lapland Longspurs previously mentioned by Kris Purdy (thank you for posting and finding the initial Longspur to get Colby and I up to Howell).

WE literally pulled up to the exact spot Kris mentioned when Colby and I both heard a rattling call and knew it was something different.  After finding the first Longspur it became apparent we were literally surrounded by them.  The birds were in the road, on the fences, in the fields, flying over head, and seemed to be everywhere!  At one point we believed there were around 12, when a flock flew in that had at least 10 - 15 more Longspurs.  At this point is when we pulled the Snow Bunting out of the flock.  In all a conservative estimate is that there were around 22 Lapland Longspurs in the area.  Here are some pictures.

The first bird we found:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_01.jpg

The 2nd bird (landed on the wire just off the road):
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_02.jpg

Colby then spotted 5 birds on the wire, including this adult molting into breeding plumage:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_03.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_04.jpg

A heavily marked bird:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_05.jpg

A lightly marked bird and the best of all the shots:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_06.jpg

Another shot of the bird in the road, raising its crown:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/lalo_07.jpg

And for kicks an absolutely horrible shot of the Snow Bunting:
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/janu07/snbu_01.jpg

Good Luck to anyone who goes up to look for these beautiful birds.  This was the largest flock either Colby or I had ever seen in Utah ( I had only seen 1 single in Utah previously).

Good Birding

Tim
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdtography.com 
Salt Lake City, Utah

"I cannot help but think a curious event is this life of mine."
- John James Audubon
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