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.)
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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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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/
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