I was up there also yesterday afternoon. It was my fifth trip up from
Seattle in hopes of seeing the gyrfalcon. Thanks to Marv's location
description and photos, I had an idea of where the bird might be. I didn't
see it on the snag, so I drove around the area for about an hour and a
half. Finally I decided to stretch my legs at the Skagit Wildlife area. I
was watching some wigeons and pintails when some yellowlegs started to
freak out. The ducks also started splashing around, and I looked up just in
time to see a large falcon make a pass at them. Sure enough, it was the
gyrfalcon! I could see the gray back, long tail, and the lack of a malar
stripe. It messed around over the fields nearby and headed back north. I
searched for it for the next two hours with no luck.
But, still, a very exciting view of a lifer for me! As an ex-falconer who
has actually trained some gyrs before, it was nice to see one in the wild.
I also saw a merlin and a northern shrike.
Catherine
On Sun, Mar 25, 2018 at 7:59 PM, Marv Breece <
marvbreece at q.com> wrote:
>
At 8:15AM this morning (3.25.18) there was a BARN OWL just north of
>
Rexville as I was on my way to dip on the Snowy Owl that was seen yesterday
>
on Calhoun Rd. After giving up on the white owl, I visited Fir Island,
>
where the adult GYRFALCON was perched on a snag off of Dry Slough Road, as
>
it was last Sunday. After a few minutes it left its tall perch and flew
>
across a nearby field, perching on the ground for a short time. Then
>
returning to the same snag.
>
>
I returned to Calhoun Rd. It seems that no one saw the Snowy Owl today.
>
While traveling McLean Road, east of Best Road, I came upon a TAIGA MERLIN.
>
>
photos and videos:
>
http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/new_images
>
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138163614 at N02/
>
>
It was a good day.
>
--
>
Marv Breece
>
Tukwila, WA
>
marvbreece at q.com
>
>
Concepts shape our world.
>
Concepts are not hard wired.
>
>
>
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>
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>
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>
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