Subject: [Tweeters] gyrs in Ocean City
Date: Nov 28 08:52:22 2009
From: Dianna Moore - dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com


Hi Tweeters...
Over the years I have seen several gyrfalcons out here on the beach but
never two of them together. Yesterday, Friday the 27th, was a first. I was
walking the dog and watching the large flocks of shorebirds when a large
flock to the south began to globe up and move nervously about. Training my
binos on them I found two large birds flying in a leisurely fashion that
immediately caught my attention. I knew these were falcons and was pretty
sure they were not peregrines; the wingbeat of a peregrine is stiffer and
these were noticeably bigger birds. They were also not in any hurry.

They appeared to be aware of the shorebirds but not interested; even turning
a quarter turn on a wing edge and "jigging" about as in a mock rush. I was
able to watch them for about 11 minutes as they flew north and disappeared
towards the Copalis River. As they flew over my head I could clearly see the
dark hoods, paler flight feathers and heavily streaked breasts. These were
the dark morph birds and appeared to be the same size.

What a thrill!

Dianna Moore
Ocean Shores, Wa.
dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com