A stop at Lakeshore State Park this morning in Milwaukee provided nice views of a Lapland Longspur. I found this bird on the south end of the park moving around on the rocks finding things to eat. This is a typical location to find this species this time of year. It was a partly cloudy day with a good wind and cool temps around 55 degrees. Images were taken on September 27, 2022.
The Lapland Longspur giving nice views…
A stop at McKinley Beach this morning in Milwaukee provided nice views of a Lapland Longspur. It seemed to be hanging with a couple of Killdeer. It continually fed in a short grass near the beach area eating seeds and then moved to a parking area. That is where the Killdeer went and so did it. The Killdeer just acted like it was a bitter cold day and did nothing, just stood there. The Lapland Longspur fed still eating seeds along cracks in the parking area and where weeds grown in cracks that held presumably a seed bank. A nice surprise to see this bird this morning but then we do see them this time of year along the lake, just once in awhile. No other unusual birds to note this morning along that part of the lakefront. A cold morning out with stiff winds from the northwest, very little sun with temps around 50. Interesting, first saw them last year at Lakeshore State Park on October 15. FOF winter hat, winter coat along with a scarf! Images were taken on October 10, 2017.
Finding seeds to eat along weed filled cracks in the parking area…
Binomial name: Calcarius lapponicus
Category: Lapwings and Plovers
Size: 6.25” long, 11.5” wing span
Weight: 0.95 oz
Cool facts: This common bird breeds in the Arctic tundra, and winters in open fields across most of the United States and southern Canada.
Finding weed seeds…
Finding more weed seeds…
Finding seeds in the grass to eat…
Finding seeds…
To the ground for seeds…
In the short grass area…
I birded some of the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning and one of the highlights was this Lapland Longspur at Lakeshore State Park. This adult nonbreeding male feed on a path eating seeds that have fallen to the ground. Also present at the beach at Lakeshore State Park was a Black-bellied Plover along with 3 Killdeer hanging out with a group of gulls. It was a mostly cloudy day, on a couple occasions the sun shinned for a minute or two, temps were a little on the cool side with low winds. Images were taken on October 15, 2015.
Lapland Longspur, adult nonbreeding male
Binomial name: Calcarius lapponicus
Category: Lapwings and Plovers
Size: 6.25” long, 11.5” wing span
Weight: 0.95 oz
Cool facts: This common bird breeds in the Arctic tundra, and winters in open fields across most of the United States and southern Canada.
Finding and eating seeds off a path
Finding and eating seeds off a path
Finding and eating seeds off a path
Finding and eating seeds off a path
Stretching
With seed
With seed
Back view
Black-bellied Plover, juv.
Black-bellied Plover, juv.
Black-bellied Plover, juv.
Black-bellied Plover, juv.
With food in bill
Calling
Calling
Lapland Longspur, female
Binomial name: Calcarius lapponicus
Category: Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Size: 6.25” long, 11.5” wing span
Weight: 0.95 oz
