On June 5, Debbie Lyons identified a female Lark Bunting at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and posted it along with a photo in eBird. Steve Mirick got the word out the next day and birders began showing up in droves to see this rare visitor. There are a few historical sightings of this species in New Hampshire, but this is only the second one since 2008, and that sighting was the first in over 30 years. The male Lark Bunting is a striking bird, black with a thick bill and a bold white wing patch. I was excited to see it, as it would have been a life bird for me, but I couldn’t get to Odiorne until Sunday, June 9 and missed it by one day. As I looked at the photos of the female Lark Bunting, whose plumage is not at all as distinctive as the male’s, I couldn’t help but wonder how Debbie had figured out what species it was, or how she even knew it was so unusual. It turns out that she was leading a class of 33 first graders when she found it! In addition to those lucky 33 children, 67 adults entered sightings into eBird, so over 100 people did get to see the bird. Here is her story:
“When the bird spooked in the grass, it was somewhat lethargic, and I got great details of its side profile and flight plumage. I knew it was a different bird for me, but I didn’t know what it was. After my program with the children was over, I went back out to the wedding tent area and the bird was still there. I was able to get digiscope photos. At that point, my top three possibilities were Lark Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Lark Bunting. I also had female Rose-breasted Grosbeak and female Purple Finch on the list. After I got home I was able to dig into my resources to figure it out. When I put the photo into Merlin, it said Lark Bunting, but without good details. Using Sibley’s field guide gave me confidence in the identification. It had all the matching profile details and flight patterns that I was looking for.”
How did Debbie happen to be in the right spot at the right time with the right amount of knowledge? I asked her a few questions to satisfy my curiosity.
How old were you when you started birding and what got you started?
I gradually became more interested in birds after college. I majored in Environmental Education and then took a Master Naturalist course after getting my Master’s, and that was a good basis for birding. Knowing about plants and habitats naturally leads to birds. I had been teaching for quite a few years and then in 2010, I was an avian field technician for the Maine Bird Atlas for three summers.
What brought you to New Hampshire?
I started working for the Seacoast Science Center two years ago as a program manager and started a Coastal Birding school program. That was how I happened to be outdoors at the right time, and how a whole class of first graders saw that bird along with me.
Are you a “lister”?
I didn’t start out as one but gradually learned to enjoy having a life list, which then leads to other lists. For example, I was in Minnesota in February, and at one point drove over into Wisconsin, saw one bird, and then had one bird on my Wisconsin list!
Where would you like to do more birding in New Hampshire and what are your favorite sightings?
I want to do more birding on the seacoast. I love it here! Also, I am interested in learning more about Saltmarsh Sparrows. I enjoyed seeing a Boreal Chickadee up in the White Mountains, but I really remember seeing Snow Buntings. I first saw them when I started working at the Science Center; they are such sweet looking birds. They really inspired me to do more birding. Also, I would really like to see a King Eider!