What a bird!

Thanks to Drew Wheelan for his excellent description of the Gyrfalcon at the Samish unit of the Skahit WMA (tweeters, 2/21/04).

Yesterday, I saw my "lifer" Gyrfalcon there. I had been out looking for the Gyr before, but as Drew explained, the key is to look low.

I arrived at the Samish unit about 8 a.m. yesterday and had been there only 10 minutes when a large, stocky gray bird came around the perimeter of the marsh, flying low with fast, strong wingbeats. It stooped on a Northern Harrier down on the ground, kept going, and stooped again on an adult Bald Eagle on the ground--actually hitting the eagle, but continuing to the middle of the marsh, where it perched on a pole (probably the same one Drew described).

What attitude!

The Gyrfalcon sat on the pole preening while I walked closer, eventually getting within about 80 meters. There I got an excellent view of the bird. After preening, the bird yawned repeatedly and shuffled around on the top of the pole, giving me front and back views. Then, suddenly, it was airborne again, flying low and fast, glides interspersed with bursts of speed--over to the east side of the marsh, where there were dozens of American Wigeons (and some other ducks) on a pond. Instant pandemonium--ducks in the air, everywhere, and the Gyr twisting and turning (gyrating, as it were) and chasing them. This was a miss. The falcon made a couple more attempts before going to another perch off to the south.

I left at 9:00 a.m., still marveling over this bird.

David White
mailto:drmwhite at nets.com
Santa Fe, New Mexico (temporarily in Mountlake Terrace)