Here in the Finger Lakes we have summer visitors and winter visitors. Fewer birds choose to end their winter migration this far north. One that has attracted me is the Horned Lark. I first saw and photographed them in the summer of 2017 at Cape St. Mary's in Newfoundland. We were there to see the colonies of Northern Gannets that nest on the high ocean bluffs, but one day produced such dense fog that I needed to find something inland from the ocean fog.
There were dozen of Horned Larks nesting in the highland grasses. They were busy gathering insects to feed their young, and were fairly likely to come close if one picked a spot and just stayed there. Larks seem to be very skittish. It was damp and it showed on the matted plumage. The ends of the black head stripes normally stand up to resemble a horn.
Horned Larks are small (7 inches long) and slender (32 grams). Compare that to the American Robin that is 10 inches and a relatively bulky 77 grams. Getting close is a must for photography.
This winter, we have many flocks of one to four dozen birds foraging mostly where farmers have spread manure mixed in with bedding straw. But they don't range widely while feeding like in summer. Today was the first time in about six attempts where any Horned Lark came close.
It appears that the winter has been hard on their feathers as most of them seemed disheveled, perhaps exaggerated by the strong winds.
I don't expect to see them here much longer, as the days are growing longer and the nesting grounds are calling them.
What a lovely little bird to add to my list. I'll remember those slightly raised horns easily visible in your photos, and the striking facial markings contrasting yellow and black. Glad you finally captured and shared these photos.
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