Date: 10/28/24 9:11 pm From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Weedy/open field birds arriving
Yesterday (10/27), after finishing a monthly shorebird survey, I found a
a Lapland Longspur with a Horned Lark flock along the edge of the
Saltworks pond restoration construction staging area. Today (10/28) at D
Street Fill, while trying to get another shorebird survey done, I
noticed a skulky bird with white outer tail feathers flushing from the
car. Thinking it was maybe an American Pipit (but hoping Siberian) I got
out to look at it. The way it dove and disappeared into the veg I then
thought maybe it was just an uncommon coastal Vesper Sparrow. When I
finally got my binos on it, as it swiftly walked away through the veg, I
noticed strong pale double braces on the back. At that moment it turned
its head to pause and look at me revealing the plain face and giant
black eye of a Sprague's Pipit! I was eventually able to get some OK
photos of it.
Both of these birds are unfortunately not chaseable, but you have to
wonder what else is waiting to be found at Fiesta Island (or other less
checked coastal/weedy/open-type places). The recently split Siberian
Pipit comes to mind, or Baird's Sparrow, or Smith's Longspur...
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