Berrien Smith's Longspurs - Road Caution

[Kip or Suzanne Miller]

There was a road error in the first message.... It has been corrected below. 





Birders, 



This is just a "heads up" note to those who may be considering a visit to the location of today's Smith's Longspur sightings in southwest Berrien County. 



The birds were seen along Buffalo Road, between Avery Road to the west and Beaver Dam Road to the east. Buffalo Road is one mile south of US-12 and roughly between the communities of Three Oaks (to the west) and Galien (to the east). 



This particular section of Buffalo Road is a one lane "unimproved" dirt road through a very large corn field. Under dry conditions it is usually passable in a passenger vehicle - you just have to negotiate around some large puddles and occasionally large ruts left by farm vehicles, etc. 



Under wet conditions the risk of getting stuck is very real - and it has been raining pretty heavy for a while here in Berrien this evening. So - in the next day or two it might be wise to park near the intersections of Avery & Buffalo or Beaver Dam &  Buffalo and walk this stretch of Buffalo. This might also increase your chances of finding the birds as they are extremely well camouflaged in the corn stubble. (I first relocated them today when I heard their call notes as I walked the road....) 



Good birding, 



Kip Miller 



(Today the birds were a bit closer to the Beaver Dam & Buffalo intersection....) 
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