Horned lark *Eremophila alpestris ssp. flava*

oops I did it again…LIFER!

The current genus name is from Ancient Greek eremos, "desert", and phileo, "to love".
The specific alpestris is Latin and means "of the high mountains", from Alpes
flava is Latin and means yellow;

Didn't expect to see a horned lark
Was hoping for a snow bunting;

Wonderful larks fed on the newly exposed ground, the rain helped the snow melt.
Periodically flew over and formed mixed flocks with skylarks, and the whole field was swarming with starlings; lapwings preferred to rest, stock doves were taking a bath...

We had a second breakfast right by the road near the field, dranking tea, watching the birds, it was a miracle! Yep!

aaaaaand I celebrated lifer with a pancake mask...