Local eBird reviewers received a report and photos of a predominantly white falcon that was photographed as it consumed a gull or pigeon. This occurred on 23 Dec 2014 outside a King Kullen supermarket on the Rt 58 strip on the north side of Riverhead (Suffolk Co.).
The bird strongly resembles a white-morph GYRFALCON but unfortunately the images aren't quite good enough to establish the ID unambiguously. Observers in the areas should be on the look out and if successful, should try to get more photos. Ideally showing the bird in profile. As with any unusual hawk or falcon, it's very important to examine the legs carefully for bands or leather leg straps ("jesses"). Photos can be very helpful in this regard. Some will remember a similar white falcon discovered in the Riverhead area a few years back that turned out to be an escaped hybrid. It had leather straps on its legs but these were not always obvious. After disappearing from the original location, what was almost certainly the same individual was sighted regularly on a building at the Brookhaven National Lab, a few miles to the west of the original location. It goes without saying, please post to the list if you see the bird! Angus Wilson eBird Reviewer (NY - Nassua Co. / Suffolk Co.) -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --