Subject: Skylarks near Sequim,Clallam Co.
Date: Dec 23 17:27:01 1998
From: "Ruth Sullivan" - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

2 SKYLARKS of the asian race A.arvensis pekinesis, first present on 12-21
during the Sequim-Dungeness CBC by Bob Boekelheide, and my mother and I,
wee again seen, photographed, and confirmed today between 8am-1pm by my
mother and I, Bob Boekelheide, Bob Norton, and Judy Mullaly northwest of
the Olympic Game Farm(north of Sequim), and west of Sequim
Ave(Sequim-Dungeness Way)on E. Anderson Rd.in a large, open field north of
the road. The field is mowed on the south side, and untouched on the
northside bordered by a wooden fence, which is the first large, open field
present, if you travel west of Sequim Ave. on E. Anderson Rd. The birds
favored both sections of the field equally, but were best viewed from the
mowed section of the field, which is closest to the road, and NOT bordered
by a fence, as this field is has much shorter grass/weeds. The birds were
observed flying back and forth in the two sections of the field, while
heard calling with a somewhat liquidified two-three syallabed "CHIRRR-IP"
or "BRRR-IP", which was only heard in flight. The north section of the
field also has a short weedy section within the field, where the birds were
also seen as the fed, then later flushed to the southern, mowed field. The
birds were seen the best today in spotting scopes,and photographed, but
were elusive at times, and able to be viewed well, mostly from the south
portion of the field. The birds were seperated from the introduced
subspecies, Alauda arvensis arvensis, present on San Juan(WA)and Vancouver
Islands(BC)by overall more golden-yellow appearance(NOT dull brown), buffy
upperparts with a finely streaked breast, white belly, underparts, and
undertail coverts, streaked brown back, nape, crown, and rump,and prominant
white outer tail feathers and less visible white tailing edge on the outer
wing, visible in flight. Buffy wing edges, whitish throat, white eyestripe
with a brownish earpatch, and slender bill were also well viewed during
observations, when both birds were seen mainly always together. 12
W.Meadowlarks were also present in association with these birds, but they
didn't forage with them exclusively.The female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was also
observed today in the field on the southside of E.Anderson Rd., directly
south of the Skylark field on fenceposts, which has been present since
12-12 in the general area.

Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net