This morning while checking Norwegian Point in Hansville, North Kitsap County, a second time,?I discovered a Lapland Longspur in the driftwood just south of the parking lot where the sign "park boundry/private beach",?is posted.??We actually got within about 8' of the bird as it probed among the beach debris.? From what I could determine, and?after a later?call to?Brad Waggoner,?it appeared to be either an adult male going into breeding plumage or a breeding plumaged female.? The nape was a?very bright rusty color with a well marked creamy eye stripe.? The face and neck and upper breast was "freckled" with black against white.? The belly was white with browish streaking in the flanks.? The beak was a?yellowish?solid color.? ?My wife Pipper and I had good looks for about 10 minutes before it took wing and?gave a clear?"rattle/whistle"call as it headed out across the water?toward Whidbey Is.
??????????????? We never saw it again,
???????????????????????????? Cheers, Doug Watkins
?????????????????????????????????????????Bainbridge Is