tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097709884854926713.post6410272082140150794..comments2023-07-07T07:16:26.521-04:00Comments on Birding Dude: New Year's Day Long Island and Bronx Birding...BIRDINGDUDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881057411623341312noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097709884854926713.post-22600584506000865182013-01-04T20:28:34.085-05:002013-01-04T20:28:34.085-05:00Andrew, I'm sure there have been many sighting...Andrew, I'm sure there have been many sightings of Lapland Longspur in The Bronx--we've had several just in Van Cortlandt Park. <br /><br />My first Lapland Longspurs (two individuals) were seen on the Parade Ground on October 26th, 1993. Observed at close distance (they were very unwary). Yolanda Garcia went back there exactly one year later, and found two females. <br /><br />And one was seen on the Bronx-Westchester CBC in 2007 (again on the Parade Ground), by me and several other observers--along with 50 Snow Buntings. There was another in Read Sanctuary, and these were the first Lapland Longspurs on the count since 1974. I'm sure there would be many more reported sightings if the Parade Ground was birded more often. <br /><br />The Parade Ground, as you already know, is unpredictable at this time of year. You can find nothing but the usual birds for days or even weeks, and then get Longspurs, Pipits, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings--you just never know. They range around in winter, and the odds of getting them on the day of the CBC are never good, particularly since it's impossible to hang around there all day. Might show up in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening. <br /><br />Anyway, it was a really good find, and by no means a common bird in The Bronx in any winter (fall is more likely), but not a first. I don't have the VCP checklist handy--is it not on there? Ought to be. Thanks for the great report.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00271250698430923736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097709884854926713.post-46131772531101676212013-01-03T12:59:06.396-05:002013-01-03T12:59:06.396-05:00A Good showing for your first day of the year! Hap...A Good showing for your first day of the year! Happy New Year Dude of the Birds!Dawn Finehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08320576787003821586noreply@blogger.com