Greetings All,
Today's John Burroughs Natural Society Wallkill Valley Raptors field trip
searched the environs of the Wallkill Valley with hopes of encountering the
previously reported Slaty-backed Gull. At around 12:30 pm our train of five
cars had worked it's way to the south side of the prison grounds on McKendrick
Road when Jessica Prockup and I noticed a large falcon flying head-on to us,
perpendicular to the vehicle. I said to Jess "nice we have a Peregrine for the
day" but when I pulled over and put the bins up I was amazed to see a white
morph Gyrfalcon! This caused me to stall the truck and jump out to grab
everyone's attention. The bird banked and soared allowing for about half of
our field party to get "life views" before it headed south west. This bird had
no facial pattern, helmet, or mustache stripe and when soaring it's back and
tail where almost white and very lightly barred eliminating Peregrin e from
consideration. Also visible while soaring the underwings and body were white
and absolutely no sign of dark wingpits and the possibility of a Prairie
Falcon. The falcon-like flight first noted, the long, broad tapered wings with
rather blunt tips eliminated leucistic Red-tailed Hawk as well. Our group
spent three more hours looking for this bird but were unable to relocate. The
area around the prison offered many good birds today and I would recommend a
search tomorrow.
Good luck and Great Birding!
Mark DeDea
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