Tweeters,



I think the discussion of the Samish Gyr illustrates an important point--
that not all field marks are evident from photographs, and it can be risky
to rely totally on a photo for identification.

Given that a Gyrfalcon in Washington is not a rare enough bird to require
field notes, too many people these days seem to believe that a couple of
photographs are all you need to document a rare bird, and that field notes
are not needed. Photos can often provide definitive proof of identification,
but not always. I would strongly encourage anyone seeing a bird which is a
rarity at the state level (i.e., on the review list of the Washington
Records Committee) to write detailed field notes AS WELL AS trying to get
photos. I'm sure the Records Committee members would agree.



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net





From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis
Paulson
Sent: February-03-08 12:42 PM
To: Steve Mlodinow; Tweeters
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Samish Gyr--or Tundra Peregrine



Steve Mlodinow questioned the identity of the bird seen on our Master Birder
field trip yesterday and photographed by John Tubbs. Steve, it was a
Gyrfalcon, a huge bird with its tail probably extending two inches beyond
its wingtips at rest. When it flew it had the big, broad tail of a buteo and
distinctly broader wings than any Peregrine or Prairie I've ever seen. It
circled round and round over the coyote in a way I wasn't sure a Peregrine
could have done, and I wondered if the broader wings and larger tail of a
Gyr might well be adaptations for hunting that way, when ptarmigans are
trying to hide in dense willow scrub. We had it close for 10-15 minutes! It
also shot off across the flats in fine falcon fashion on several occasions.



After I wrote this, I saw Charlie Wright's comments on the same bird, right
on the mark. However, I don't think John's treatment of the photo on the
computer enhanced the malar stripe any more than it was in life. It looked
pretty much like the photo, and I guess Gyrfalcons can look like that! In
fact, the only Gyrfalcon I've photographed digitally (and thus easily
accessed on my computer) was the bird at the West 90 a few years ago, and it
had a malar stripe only the slightest bit less contrasty than that of our
bird. I guess you can also conclude that there is still variation beyond the
fine photos in Brian Wheeler's hawk book.



Dennis

-----

Dennis Paulson

1724 NE 98 St.

Seattle, WA 98115

206-528-1382

dennispaulson at comcast.net