Thanks for the state bird, Aaron! The Allens and I walked the field around noon and flushed one which took off to the west. Although I thought I had seen where it dropped in, we never found it again. On the way back to the cars Pam flushed what was presumably another one a bit further south of the road and flew right over head calling as it went. It headed to the corn field to the north but I suspect it went back to the green field before long.
On another note, I left there and went to Polk City where I found the continuing Spotted Towhee in the big brush pile along the entry road into Sandpiper Beach. The lake itself was pretty quiet. Ann Johnson Norwalk, IA From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Aaron Brees Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2012 12:43 PM To: IA-BIRD Subject: [ia-bird] Sprague's Pipits, Smith's Longspurs -- Polk County This morning I found at least three Sprague's Pipits and two Smith's Longspurs at Errington Marsh. They were in the field with the short, sparse vegetation at the north end of the area and could occasionally be seen and heard from the road when they moved around the field. Both species are most easily located and identified by their flight calls and are difficult to view on the ground. I will try to post some photos to my flickr page shortly. Aaron Brees Saylorville, IA http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrees/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
