Gyrfalcon

Guys,

Sorry for the delay on this post.  It's been a busy weekend.

Last Monday, I ran into someone outside San Jacinto Wildlife Area who told me to keep an eye out for "this" bird (as he held up a photo of a Gyrfalcon).  I couldn't find the bird that day, but the bird was relocated, and word got out a few days later.

The earliest I could make it down was Friday.  But it was pretty intense for me.  Liz needed the car for an interview, so I needed to stop birding by 9:00am.  I tried (unsuccessfully) for some short-eared owls on my way down (although I did pick up a ferruginous hawk) and arrived at the Gyrfalcon spot at around 7:20am to give myself about an hour and a half for the bird to arrive.

Luckily, the bird had recently arrived at the spot it had been seen (with a coot for breakfast), so it was there when I arrived.  I got out my scope, and got a perfect look at the bird for about 5 minutes before it flew off (with about 40 birders chasing it).

So I would like to announce bird #189: Gyrfalcon.

That completes a 4 falcon week at SJWA for me.

Below is a picture a fried (Matt Grube) took that morning.

Good birding,

Kevin