Hi All:
The possible Sprague's Pipit sighting has generated a lot of personal responses quickly. I appreciate all the input very much as I want to be sure about my identification. It seems easier, as I think most would have the same input and/or questions, to respond to the group on a couple points, that I either glossed over or left out. As expected, most responses urged me to consider juv horned lark as a possible alternative. I did not specifically address that in my email below and should have. I reviewed the following two posts in CoBirds (May and June of 2009) on similar topics: http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/browse_thread/thread/64009b47e3069618 /9056cb0a58f263d6?lnk=gst <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/browse_thread/thread/64009b47e306961 8/9056cb0a58f263d6?lnk=gst&q=sprague#> &q=sprague# http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/browse_thread/thread/12f69a4d530eada8 /0578c89439eabf26?lnk=gst <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/browse_thread/thread/12f69a4d530eada 8/0578c89439eabf26?lnk=gst&q=sprague#0578c89439eabf26> &q=sprague#0578c89439eabf26 Both my wife and I remarked without either prompting on the distinct bold white wing-bars on this bird. The field guides seem to indicate that this should rule out horned lark at any age. Thus my glossing over this part in my original post. In reviewing the posts above, I wish I had noted primary extension (which would have been another fine diagnostic feature) but I did not even know to note that. Obviously, I have no experience with this particular species. However, I do have plenty with American Pipit, and as most Coloradans, lots and lots with horned larks - both juv and adult. This bird was seen foraging very well, and not once did I think horned lark - but pipit outline/look at all times. In fact, I was thinking American pipit until I got back to my trailer and field guides (100 yards away) and noted the white wing bars only on the Sprague's juv. For very good reasons, I understand that this would be a very unlikely sighting. And, I don't want to count this as a lifer if my description is not diagnostic. I tried to find Tony Leukering's referenced "In the Scope" article on this subject in "Colorado Birds" online - but could not find it. Can anyone provide an online link to it? As I write this, more and more emails are coming in from those in the field we all respect, strongly urging that what I saw was undoubtedly a juv horned lark. Darn. I guess that tick is going to come OFF my life list. Don't want a lifer on my list that I can't be dead certain of. And my camera with 300mm lens was just a hundred yards away at my trailer. Now I will just have to get out east when they are known to migrate this fall and really find one. Thanks to all for the quick feedback. Jeff J Jones ( <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]) Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff J Jones Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 9:10 AM To: 'CObirds List' Subject: [cobirds] Sprague's Pipit - Park County This weekend, my wife and I went camping near Lost Creek Wilderness in Park County (link to Google Maps location <http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203710880197837155841.0004a9728682527d3 4163&msa=0&ll=39.338612,-105.73946&spn=0.029175,0.037508> ). North end of South Park at 9,700' elevation. At this location, we saw and got good looks at what I am fairly certain is my first Sprague's Pipit. It appeared to even be a juvenile with some cottony tuft remnants above the eyes. It was in open fields with potentilla, vasey's rabbitbrush, paintbrush, Colorado rubber plant, pasture sage, rock primrose, grasses, etc. Only one seen; not with others. Did not bob tail, blank face, big white wing-bars, upper breast streaks, scaly/streaked back; did not note leg color. Got looks from as close as 30 ft. Did not note the calls as it shot to the air eventually and to parts unknown. But it did call; just wasn't thinking to take a note of it. Would this bird be expected here in South Park? Would a juv. be expected here? Possible breeding in South Park? Or, migrant already from parts further north? Also, pair of western wood-pewees nesting in high apsen horizontal fork; defending 3 near-fledging young from marauding steller's jay all day. Only sign of on-going breeding found here over 3 days. Many species feeding young; but most of breeding, from past experience here, occurs mid-June to early-July. First nest of wood-pewees ever found by myself in aspen. Also, had Olive-sided Flycatcher calling early Saturday morning. Complete list below. Jeff J Jones ( <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]) Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands FIRST SIGHTINGS: World: 1, Annual: 2 Species: 28 - Subspecies: 1 - Forms: 28 Total Records: 28 NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME Canada Goose Branta canadensis Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Common Raven Corvus corax Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis House Wren Troglodytes aedon Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides American Robin Turdus migratorius Sprague's Pipit Anthus spragueii Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) caniceps Junco hyemalis caniceps Pine Siskin Spinus pinus Birder's Diary - www.BirdersDiary.com - 8/1/2011 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
