Lapland Longspur

Lapland Longspur at SJCR parking lot C. We saw a few fly and land in the vegetation, then some more came in nearby as we were scrunched down on the ground taking photos of the first ones. Eventually a flock of 10 flew away.

They were in the vegetation a little ways east of the low, sandy spot as you walk from the parking lot out to the river beach. This photo is looking east, toward where the Lapland Lonspurs were. They seem to favor the low Salicornia plants, especially if there are some nearby grassy areas that provide cover, as you can see along the right side of the photo. When they land, they immediately run a few steps away from the spot where they landed.

Lapland Longspur

Lapland Longspurs appear around this time of year at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. I counted 27 in a flock today.

When the birds land, they practically disappear into the vegetation. They also have a habit of secretly moving away from the point where they touch down as soon as they land, making it hard to re-find them.

The 27 tiny black dots just above the jetty rocks are a flock of Lapland Longspurs.

Lapland Longspurs

A flock of 130 Lapland Longspurs was flying around SJCR (parking lot C) in stormy weather 10/8/16. I went back 10/9/16 to try for closer photos, but difficult to get close to the flighty flock on the open salicornia-coverd marsh.

Lapland Longspur

Lapland Longspur

Click here to see video

South Jetty, Columbia River. At high tide, you need to walk all the way around the edges to get to all the ponds. My "Bogs" boots were very useful!