Feb. 16, 2003 Lake Co. TN On Saturday the temp was about 60 in the morning but at dusk I was standing out in a field being pelted with by a pouring icy rain. The landscape on Sunday morning was covered in sleet, snow and a lot of slick. I had seen very few Lapland Longspurs on Saturday but suddenly Sunday they were everywhere. Flock after flock in every field and a busy bunch they were, scurrying about and not concerned how close you got as long as you moved slowly. The males are now strikingly beautiful against a back ground of snow. In the mix were Horned Larks and as they flushed, I noted some would fly with their tails cocked at an odd downward angle. The tail would be cocked almost forward and flight looked strained. At first I thought it was some breeding flight display that I had never seen before but even single birds were doing it. I got up close to one group and found that these birds were carrying ice balls on the tips of their tail. None of the Laps exhibited this flight pattern and of course if you watch these birds feeding you understand why. In the air, you can see the short tailed and pot bellied look of Laps which contrasts with the longer slimmer bodied, long tailed Horned Larks. When the birds land the Laps hunker down and hold their body nearly parallel to the ground and they feed in that position with their tail on the same plane. Horned Larks stand more erect. This is another good indicator of species because if a flock hits the ground and you can see most of the individuals then they are Horned Larks and if they disappear they are most likely Laps. But there in lies the tale or tail. The upright Horned Lark's tail drags the ground and accumulates ice whereas the Laps get off without a load. I'm sure in deeper snow conditions the Laps suffer also but here shorter is better. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL' COOT / TLBA Bartlett Tenn. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================