Subject: [Tweeters] Gyrfalcon at Alki
Date: Nov 26 18:23:53 2012
From: Paul Webster - paul.webster at comcast.net


Hi Tweets,

Today Barbara and I were out in King County, enjoying the sunny weather.
The highlight of the day was a GYRFALCON. At about 10:30 we were at
Constellation Park just south of Alki Point when we saw a large falcon
harassing a Brant offshore. We assumed it was a Peregrine with delusions of
grandeur, but the falcon seemed only slightly smaller than the Brant. We
got the scope on it and saw it had a dark hood, but lacked the Peregrine
helmet with sideburns. It also had a bulky brown-and-white streaked body,
broad blunt-tipped wings, and a long wide tail with many narrow bands.
After several passes it flew off to the east. but returned a few minutes
later to go after the Brant again, but this time attracted the attention of
a Glaucous-winged Gull that tried to drive it away. After briefly sparring
with the gull, the Gyr flew off to the north. We waited for 15-20 minutes,
but it didn't return.

Earlier we saw the BROWN PELICAN already reported, it was feeding with
gulls north of Duwamish Head. We also found a large flock of rockpipers,
about 40 SURFBIRDS and 10 BLACK TURNSTONES. Later at the Kent ponds off
Russell Rd. we saw a soaring PEREGRINE FALCON and our first King County
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the season. At Emerald Downs there was a lot of water
furnished with Mallards, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and
Green-winged Teal. We saw a dozen Dunlin and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers.
There were LOTS of Killdeer, we stopped counting at 30. Close to the bike
trail two Red-tailed Hawks chased a Coopers Hawk away, while a Northern
Shrike watched, nervously, we thought.

Good Birding,

Paul Webster
Seattle
paul.webster AT comcast.net
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