[TN-Bird] Chestnut-collared Longspurs in Lake Co. today, 12/21/08
- From: kings4birds@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:54:17 -0500
Between 8:30 and 9:30 this morning, I heard the calls of
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS among the swirling masses of Laplands, then
had three of them in view for a few minutes. Mike Todd has described
the spot: Very near the intersection of Donald Rd. and 213, the road to
Gray's Camp, just off and within sight of Hwy. 78, north of
Tiptonville. The birds were circling and returning to feed in a corn
field on the north side of Donald Rd. DeLorme 47, A 5-6.
Replaying the mental snapshots as I drove back to Memphis, and
consulting the field guides when I could, I am sure one was a male and
two were females. The black and white patch on its shoulder focused my
attention on the first, male bird, and I noticed the other two in tight
proximity to it. I could see blackish, buffy-shingled feathering all
the way down to the legs on this guy, and its face pattern was
different from the Laplands moving around in the same field: their
cheeks had a very distinct dark margin, and the Chestnut-collared's had
only a black smudge across the back of the cheek. No chestnut on the
wings of these birds, also unlike the Laplands. The two females were a
drabber version but distinguishable from the Laps by their buffy
undersides, and plainer faces. I had them in my field for only a few
minutes, and when they flew I couldn't relocate them in the darting
flock when I looked up from my scope. I continued to hear the calls
both from the ground and from the air as the flocks were very restless,
moving a lot. Light was good, but cold and wind were fierce, and I
don't see how anyone could see these birds without a window-mounted
scope, or hang in there very long without the shelter of the car.
Thanks to Mike for playing the calls for us Friday night, and to the
group for working to learn that these birds are keeping to a viewable,
relatively small area. Jeff Wilson was there this morning when I drove
up, and had been hearing more than one; no small degree of luck and
some time to spend looking, made my day day today! Thanks to all of you!
Gail King
Memphis, TN
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