---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Gyrfalcon - Right Place, Right Time
Date: 95-12-18 14:00:47 EST
From: MWKG
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

Tweets,

The team of Lynne Givler, Keith Carpenter, Tricia Otto-Wisner and I had just
finished lunch and were preparing to count some 5,000 ducks on Wiser Lake as
part of the Bellingham CBC. A group of 30 Coots on the lawn of a house just
east of the boat ramp suddenly scattered as a grey phase Gyrfalcon dropped
in on them. The Gyr stunned one of the Coots and then landed about fifteen
yards away from the downed bird .

The Gyr stayed on the grass lawn there for about five minutes before taking
off for a tree about 50 yards away where it sat for another three minutes. It
flew back over the Coot, hovered and circled on two occasions. The second
time, after cirlcing about 20 feet above the Coot the Gyr landed again, about
10 yards away, sat for two minutes and then headed back for the tree. It
perched in the tree for another five minutes before taking off and flying
west. The Coot staggered to its feet and then with burst of adrenaline ran
for the lake.

The bird was a larger, adult grey morph, quite light but clearly spotted,
with a faint dark mustache clearly visible. The wings and back were only
slightly darker than the tail with underparts slightly lighter.

We were able to watch the bird for nearly twenty minutes before it took off
and we headed off to count waterfowl. It definitely made our day a bit
brighter.

Mike Waller
WP Zoo