Lark Bunting - new lifer!

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Lark Bunting - new lifer!
I spotted a new life list bird yesterday! It was quite exciting, because it is a bird I have been hoping to see for some time. The Lark Bunting looks quite different in winter than in the summer time. I was fairly sure I had seen one in the winter last year, but not quite ready to make a positive identification. I decided I'd wait for summer, and think good thoughts.
When I went down to feed horses last night, there was a mixed flock of small birds hopping around - pecking undigested feed out of horse manure if you must know - and I couldn't help but notice those bright white wingbars. Woohoo - a male Lark Bunting! Two of them, in fact.
I am nursing a wonderful suspicion that that flock of small black birds I keep not quite getting a good look at are Phainopepla. The first thing that drew my attention to them was the interesting little warble I heard from a tree. I saw them again later, flying away, and the shape of the tail made me think they were Boat-tailed Grackle - but they just don't seem large enough.
We do have Bewicks Blackbirds here - there were a couple pecking around with that mixed flock with the Lark Buntings - but you can see those yellow eyes a mile off and I haven't noticed such with this little flock of black birds.
Ravens are protected in New Mexico - and because of that Grackles are, too. The reasoning is that most people can't tell "big, black birds" apart. Sheesh - I'm a bird watcher and I'm having a time telling these black birds apart! LOL!
Good birding!
Summer

Posted: Tuesday 22nd April 2008, 9:02 AM

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