Lark Bunting Hope Airport May 30

[Gord]

About an hour ago I got a male Lark Bunting at the Hope Airport. It was at the weather station which is east of the terminal at the north side. What a beautiful bird. I'm still on cloud nine.

[Randy]

Wow, great find!!!

Lifer for you?

[butterfly]

Awesome find, Gord! Bruce and Joanne

[murraybrown]

Several Vancouver area birders and myself searched unsuccessfully for the bird this afternoon. We did find three Western Kingbirds just south of Jack Delair's house though.

Great find Gord. I've seen them displaying in Grassland's National Park in southern Saskatchewan but would have loved to get one for my B.C. list.

[Gord]

Thanks, all! Murray, too bad you didnt get it.

Randy, yes a lifer. The Grasshopper Sparrow was as well. It's been a good month. Not that lifers are critical to me or anything but of late it's taken a year to get two new lifers (not two weeks) and I have been averaging one new one the last few years anyway.

I texted a few people quickly this morning and it was seen at 11:00. I'm posting for them because they're away for a bit. I won't use their names for now as, while EXTREMELY unlikely anything would happen, there no need to say they're away from their homes at the moment. Congrats to them for seeing it. It was again on the fence at the weather station and then flew out into the runway and did not reappear.

Here's some photos.



This is a young bird that hatched last year based on its feathering. In addition to some greyish-brown feathers that would be black on a full adult the group of wing feathers circled in red is a very good indicator of age especially on black birds like these guys such as Black-headed Grosbeaks etc. A full adult would have black feathers where I've circled.



Lark Buntings, as Murray mentioned, are found in the southern Prairies and migrate due south into Texas and Mexico for the most part. There's not many sightings of this bird in BC and for our checklist area the last was a field observation in 2009 and then the next in 1906!

It was actually a good morning for what my dear grandfather would have called a constitutional walk. The crisp morning air was good for the soul and the following list of interesting birds among many were very soothing.

Swainson's Hawk
Western Kingbird
Dusky Flycatcher
Grey Catbird


The Swainson's Hawk


One must never overlook the 'common' birds either though. If you think this waxwing looks very happy with the berries you would have been right.



Good birding to all and good luck for those who try for this bird.

[ed]

That's really awesome Gord! I was also at the hope Airport early this morning, saw 6 Western Kingbirds, and double checked a couple of brownish birds....I almost overlooked them but when they turned I was looking at a couple of female yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Ed

[Chris]

Wow, great sighting Gord. A species that is neat the top of my list to see. A fair amount of other good species too seen by others.

Even though it wasn't seen again after 1100 might be worth it to check tomorrow. Could have been in a different location. Hopefully its seen again

[cherfst]

Really neat bird Gord. That picture of the Waxwing is extraordinary.

[Gord]

Ed, not sure how I missed you as we would have been there at the same time. Too bad the bunting was hiding or something when you went by.

[oldfulica]

May 30, 2016 16:55:54 GMT -8 Gord said:

I texted a few people quickly this morning and it was seen at 11:00. I'm posting for them because they're away for a bit. I won't use their names for now as, while EXTREMELY unlikely anything would happen, there no need to say they're away from their homes at the moment. Congrats to them for seeing it. It was again on the fence at the weather station and then flew out into the runway and did not reappear.

Gord, when I got to a place where I could check a picture I took, I found the bird we saw was not a Lark Bunting. We weren't sure if it was male or female bird you saw and thought we had a female that wouldn't turn around. Really appreciated the heads-up though.