Ontbirders, While watching hawk migration from my yard this afternoon, I had a dark [brown] morph Gyrfalcon pass over my place, circling low before soaring to the west, following the Thames River valley. Extremely darkly coloured, with only the silvery remiges providing any contrast from below. Amazingly, this is my 2nd yard record of this species - I had several [yard] observations back in 1992 of the long-staying Beachville bird that was found by Ian Platt. This is the 5th county record. Earlier this morning, at Pittock Lake Park, I had 35 Bohemian Waxwing in Highbush Cranberry, as well as 15 WW Crossbill and 7 Evening Grosbeak. Directions for the Gyr would be anywhere W or SW of Woodstock. For Pittock Park - from 401, take exit 230. Go north on Mill to Vansittart. Take Vansittart north, over the Thames about .5km, to Pittock Park Road. East on Pittock Park Road 1km, look for Park gates on your right.
Cheers, James Holdsworth, Biological Consulting Services 14 Marian St, RR#1 Woodstock, On, N4S-7V6 [519]537-2027 226-228-0093 [cell] jmholdswo...@rogers.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
