Greetings,
Around midday on Friday 25 November I found a flock of about 100 Horned
Larks that had at least a dozen Lapland Longspurs and three Snow Buntings
mixed
in. These birds were along Myers Mill Road (623) at the intersection of
Springs Road (802), near the Rappahannock River in Culpeper County. This is
just
over the county line between Fauquier and Culpeper. There are several large
fields here, and it was pure luck that the birds happened to be in flight as
I was driving through else they would have been missed otherwise. I wasn't
birding (nor dressed for the cold), but did get out and scope the flock as
they foraged along the road edge and in the corn stubble before I got cold
enough to stop looking.
Longspurs are often found at Remington mixed in with Horned Larks, and
that's much easier in the snow as they are forced to the shoulders of plowed
roads, and in years past a few Snow Buntings have been seen out there as well.
This location isn't particularly far from Remington, and it is a continuation
of ag fields between the two spots (though many are not accessible).
I've been out of town or otherwise tied up for the better part of the last
two weeks, so I can't say whether or not these birds have been here recently,
as I haven't been by this field in daylight for quite some time. I also
haven't been to Remington in months, so I have no idea if there is a good
sized
lark flock out there as well.
If anyone is interested in poking around this area, it's an easy detour from
a visit to Remington. Find yourself in Opal at the intersection of US 29
where US 17 breaks off and heads south. At this intersection is Opal Road,
which is between the McDonalds and Pete's Park-n-eat (I don't recall the route
number). Take Opal road a few miles until it ends at 802. Turn left, cross
the river, and the first left if Myers Mill Road, and the fields are obvious.
Cheers,
Todd
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Todd Michael Day
Jeffersonton, VA, USA
blkvulture@xxxxxxx
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