[TN-Bird] Chestnut-collared Longspurs in Lake Co. today, 12/21/08

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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