Lapland Longspur - Crescent Beach, BC

While sitting on the end of Blackie Spit waiting for the Willet to show up, I heard, then saw the shape of an incoming sparrow to the line of seaweed on the beach below me. There could only be a couple choices and both birds were waiting to be put on my year list. I saw the rust colored wings of the longspur that we see in the spring and fall here on the beaches and made a mental note. This bird had presumably come from above the arctic circle where they spend the summer and head as far south as the Mexican border for the winter months. This casual visitor is seen anywhere there is short grass and typically on the coast. Longspurs are named for the extra long nail on the back toe.