This may be of interest concerning local juvenile gray phase Gyrfalcons. This was posted to the Massachusetts Birding list on 31-Oct-2009. Something to keep an eye on.
Google map location: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yakzsad I added a bit of white space to break up the paragraph. /----- quoted text ------\ Subject: GYRFALCON Another great Allens Pond walk From: Paul Champlin <skua99 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:18:17 -0400 Hi folks, Quick note from today's Allen's Pond walk. At about 9:45 Two falcons were seen from the road on the beach loop trail; the falcons were just east of the fresh pond on the fresh pond trail (Ruben's Point on the map; see the link below). Initially I called out two Peregrines hunting together and passed the scope to the attendees (14 in all today). As I watched through binoculars I saw that one was riding the updraft of the SW winds hitting the trees and tended to go after the other falcon, the instigator being about 1/5 larger and bulkier than the other (which was certainly a peregrine). Looking through the scope again I saw that the bird was quite hefty with wings that were less slender than the peregrine's. Compared to the peregrine, the bulk of the bird gave it a bit more of a dumpy appearance as it hung. As it tried chasing down a flock of Hooded Mergansers (and caught up with them but missed em) I got a good look at the wings which were blunt-tipped as it headed back to hang and as it harassed the peregrine. The large falcon kept going back to "hang" like a Red-tail on the updraft, so well that we had it in the scope several times for several folks in a row to get a look. We saw it harass two passing Turkey Vultures. I saw no coloration but white and dark slate, and saw it from many angles in different lighting (hazy sun to cloudy) and against dark forested backgrounds and sky. I tried to get a sense of facial pattern and could tell that it was not that of an adult peregrine (no contrast between the neck and face, so no separated cheek patch). After about 25 minutes with the bird we began walking to that side of the pond to see if we could get under it bird but as we went it headed east not to be seen again. With the look that I got and having seen/found several of these in the past, I'm as sure as I could be that it was a juv., Gray Gyrfalcon. Here's a link to the trail map http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/images/maps/allenspond_trails.gif If people would like to look for the bird I'd go tomorrow morning between dawn and 10AM (I'll be in W Mass so can't). Here is a map for directions (Rt I195 to 88 south, then follow the map). List from the morning to follow on Monday. (Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, teal, wigeon, gannet etc.). Paul Champlin Westport, MA \----- end quote -----/ http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MASS.html#1257014964 Ben Cacace Manhattan, NYC -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
