Today I saw my first Redpoll of the year (Only 3 of them) on the Hilliardton Hwy. Yesterday, there were at least 36, more likely up to 50 Horned Lark near Earlton, as well as a mess of Snow Buntings.
I was thinking that the ones without the yellow throat were female Horned Lark, but now I think that perhaps some of those "50" were perhaps Lapland Longspur... See picture.
Agreed. The above photo only has three Horned Larks, I think. The chestnut colour on the back of the neck is quite strong in some of them, and the black breeding plumage is starting to fill in on some of the chests.