My 2ยข I just have to comment how stunning these photos are. I agree that it may be hard to tell how large the bird is, (and believe me, I'm NO expert) but when put up against the size of a herring gull (particularly when it is flying off with the gull) seems to put it in the Gyr league. Again, stunning pix - and as someone previously said - maybe even better than the guides. Thank you to Luke for sharing. S
Susan Herbst graphic design/illustration/photography 516-633-7730 susie...@optonline.net On Oct 29, 2009, at 11:00 AM, Hugh McGuinness wrote: > Dear NY Birders, > > Here are a few more links to photos of the bird that was seen last > Sunday near the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach (Nassau County). > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/96567...@n00/4054517540/ > > http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi? > a=up&ns=1&pi=LUKEEORMAND > > I would like to encourage people who weigh in on the ID of this > bird to supply reasons for their determination in order that we all > may learn from this bird. That said a USFWS biologist Ted Swem who > regularly bands Gyrfalcons supplied this comment: "...unless your > photo really misrepresents the colors of the bird, this is a gyr. > The browns in peregrines are much darker than those in gyrs, and > the contrast between the markings and the background colors is more > striking, and the markings on the face and crown are more distinct. " > > I also believe that P10 being shorter than P9 rules out Peregrine. > > The spectre of hybrids has been raised. I have looked at several > photos of Gyr x Peregrine but none approach this bird, and the > Saker x Gyr photos all seem to show birds with pale heads and > throats. It would be interesting for someone with experience with > Falco hybrids would weigh in on this bird. > > Hugh > > > Hugh McGuinness > The Ross School > 18 Goodfriend Drive > East Hampton, NY 11937 > hmcguinn...@ross.org > > > > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
