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Mary Anne Thorbeck
Seattle, WA.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shiva P" <shivap at earthlink.net>
To: <maryannethorbeck at comcast.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 6:40 PM
Subject: Re : An Harris's Sparrow not far from the Gyrfalcon .


I did go in search of the Gyrfalcon , along the Old Snohomish - Monroe Road
and found it perched in the same spot as yesteryears( about a mile and half
out of the town of Snohomish ) ; as if somebody had nailed it to the tree .
Given the lighting conditions and the distance involved ( even with the help
of the scope ) I could clearly see its white breast and gentle barrings on
its lower flanks . Its back was barred and seemed grayish than whitish .
However , its tail was noticeably longer than its wing tips and I am sure
this was the same Gyrfalcon reported by others . I am unsure of its morph .

I continued further along this road towards Monroe and hung a right on
Treosti Road . In the bushes a few hundred feet on the right of the road
opposite the farm and feedlot , I found an active sparrow flock . In this
was the other highlight of the day , an adult winter plumage Harris Sparrow
.. It had a black face and buffy yellow cheeks, quite in contrast to the
White-crowned & Golden-crowned that were more numerous . Its larger size ,
the call and all pink bill were very distinctive .

Thank you for the Gyrfalcon tip .

Shiva Parameswaran.
Seattle, WA