Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks, and a three Bald Eagle day were highlights of a trip to Walpole, NH. Then I found Pine Grosbeaks, finally, high in Ash trees in Lebanon.
Lapland Longspurs
I travelled to Walpole to a spot I had visited several years ago where a field was plowed revealing open areas and weed-filled snow banks. I was hoping to find Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks and was not disappointed. I found them immediately, but after 20 minutes they suddenly left all at once. I did get photos before they departed.
Below you can see a Lapland Longspur in the bottom center with seven Horned Larks above it.
In the photo below, the Lapland Longspur is on the far right.
I suspect most of the Lapland Longspurs I photographed were first winter birds, as were probably many of the Horned Larks I saw.
I stayed in the immediate area for about an hour hoping the flock would return. When they didn’t, I headed south down River Road where I have seen some winter birds in the past. I found some sparrows, a few Snow Buntings, and many Horned Larks. I photographed a Lapland Longspur on a manure pile in a field.
I returned to the initial spot two hours after the flock had departed and was happy to discover they had returned. I photographed the birds for about 20 minutes before a car with out-of-state plates (not NH or VT) drove in, came to a noisy stop near me, and flushed the flock. I decided I had taken enough photos, so I headed north toward home.
During that second visit I got this comparison of a Lapland Longspur on the left and a Horned Lark on the right. I believe both were first winter birds.
I caught a Lapland Longspur in flight. The first of the photos below is highly cropped.
Here are five more photos of these beautiful Lapland Longspurs visiting from the north where they breed.
Horned Larks
There were certainly more Horned Larks present than Lapland Longspurs. In the three photos below you can see how these birds got their name. Note the tiny “horns” at the top back of their heads. Some photos of this species show much longer and more dramatic horns than I captured.
Here is a pair of Horned Larks from the first 20 minute session at the site.
I found a flock of mostly Horned Larks down along River Road in Walpole. I caught the flock in flight above a corn field.
Below are nine more photos of Horned Larks from my second 20 minute visit to the initial site.
Snow Bunting
I got a lucky photo of a Snow Bunting in flight along River Road. I am still hoping to get some close-up photos of these beautiful birds this season.
American Tree Sparrow
Also along River Road I found an American Tree Sparrow.
Dark-eyed Juncos
In the same area I found a few Dark-eyed Juncos.
Bald Eagles
During my second visit to the large flock of longspurs and larks, a Bald Eagle flew over. I held the camera shutter down continuously as it flew past. Here are four photos.
Driving home through North Walpole, I spotted a pair of Bald Eagles sitting in a dead tree at the end of a parking lot. I’m not sure if I saw them before or after I noticed the man photographing them with his phone. I turned around and headed back to the parking lot. These eagles seemed unconcerned with people moving around the area.
Below are a half dozen photos of the Bald Eagle pair.
The eagle on the left departed and soon after so did I. But before I left I took a photo of another phone photographer. You might be able to make out the remaining eagle on the top left of the photo.
Pine Grosbeaks
I spent a short time with Pine Grosbeaks that were feeding on Ash tree seeds in Lebanon just south of Dartmouth Coach. They were backlit against a dull blank sky. Much of January has been like November normally is.
Here are ten photos of the Pine Grosbeaks. The reddish ones are males.
Now if I could find some nice tame, approachable Snow Buntings…