People Worked the plowed fields along Kuhlwein Rd. (Darby Creek Rd. south of Broad) for over an hour this morning.......Finally, after some time, did see a restless flock of Lapland Longspurs take flight, racing low along the frozen ground, rise rapidly in a urgent bounding flock, they wheeled, checked every corner of the large bare pasture, returned to the middle ground, streaking in a undulating flock very low (the darker background offering fairly good views), abruptly dropping to ground, without warning blasting off again, repeating whole thing; for 20 min. This time the changed direction with purpose and headed toward us, closing fast and passing directlly overhead, onward to the large field N of rd. where they were lost somewhere. I counted 27 longspurs, unusually quiet. We saw a few Horned Larks and American Pipits and a striking Snow Bunting -- the later calling in the air, finally seen approaching passing overhead, striking white underwings with black outer third. It continued somewhere to the north. Then, the longspurs returned but were restless and behaved as before. Even at long range, we were able to note the strike rusty wing panel, how obvious it was -- a unique feature to Lapland Longspur. No invasive finches dispite searching, save a few House Finches. Did see five cowbirds working the soft cones near the top of a mature hemlock in a residential spot. Best of birding David Tan Columbus [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]