Silver Strand/Camp Surf CC Longspur: No, but…

Kristina Wolf and Bridget Spencer found a Chestnut-collared Longspur on Wednesday near the border of Silver Strand State Beach and the Navy’s south training complex (see ebird list for details and photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S287187631).

I checked the area this morning and did not find the longspur, but I did have a flock of larks and pipits fly by, near where they found it. There was a bird in the flock that seemed to have the right shape, although I would have expected to see more white in the tail. Lighting was bad, the bird was far, and the flock landed within the Navy fence on the west side of the buildings. 

I’ll check again tomorrow, but for anyone in the area, the walk up/down the beach might be worth it. Hopefully the bird sticks around for the count on Dec 20.