Subject: Re: Bunting alert!!
Date: Sep 3 18:08:14 1995
From: Don Cecile - dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca
Jack, I cannot offer any advice regarding the identification or possibility
of Asian Buntings but I did want to share with you my initial reaction to
your experience. I had somewhat of a similar experience one year ago. I
saw a bird that I thought to be an aberrant Savannah Sparrow but upon closer
examination realized that it could not be. It was as I still believe
today, to be a Smith's Longspur. I understand that this time of year is a
peak time for seeing them. I read your description and it did not quite
fit, but then it did not quite fit anything else either. Did you consider
Smith's Longspur?
I understand you are very familiar with Lapland's but you did not mention
Smith's which may bear some similarity to what you described. I have rarely
had success identifying an unknown bird after the fact. I wish you the best
of luck in trying to discern what it was.
Good Birding,
Don Cecile
dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca.