[obol] RBA: Chestnut-collared Longspur

From: Mike Patterson <celata@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: 'OBOL' <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 13:32:19 -0700
I went out to Sunset Beach to check out the wreck of mysterious
pink things on the beach (fide Steve Warner) this morning.  I also
decided to do a beached bird count.

At the south end of the beach transect I took the dune trail that
runs between the National Park property and the gated community
of Surf Pines.  About two-thirds of way up the trail I flushed
a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR.  It flew up from the trail, arced
around to the north and dropped into the beach-grass about 30m
off the trail.  I walked toward the area where it landed, but could
not relocate it.

It was a small, sparrow-sized bird with striking white outer tail
feathers.  The body was a buffy tan with no other obvious markings.
I heard a soft kit-kit, though not the more diagnostic kiddle-kiddle.

I've seen quite a few Chestnut-collared Longspurs and the spot I
flushed it from is similar to habitat a Little Beach in Gearhart
where most of these longspurs turn up.

I can eliminate Savannah Sparrow based on the brightness of the outer
tail feathers.  Some Savannah Sparrow show pale buffy outer tail
feathers, but these were white.

I expect Vesper Sparrow to be larger and darker than what I saw. Vesper
Sparrows are also nearly as unusual as Chestnut-collared Longspurs.

Lapland Longspurs a big and do not typically show as much white in the
tail as I saw on this bird.  Smith's Longspur is also pretty hefty.

The dune trail access from the beach is 1.09km south of the Sunset
Beach access.  The beach conditions have been dicey with sneaker wavers
during low tides and no beach at all during high tides.  I would not
recommend driving the beach without an all-wheel drive vehicle and a
careful assessment of beach conditions.  I walked...

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
String Theory
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=2182



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[obol] RBA: Chestnut-collared Longspur

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