[CT Birds] Gyrfalcon?

[Andy Griswold]

Danny and Clay -

About a month ago three different observers (I was one of these) at three different times saw a large dark falcon-like bird working Great Island and the surrounding areas on the lower CT River. One observer saw this bird interacting with the two Peregrines at the Route 95 bridge in Old Saybrook.

Cheers,

Andy

Andrew Griswold, Director
Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel

-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org [mailto:ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Clay Taylor
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:27 PM
To: Daniel williams; ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Hammo 10/13 Red Crossbill, Common Eider, Probable Jaeger sp.

Danny -

This is prime time for Gyrfalcon sightings - did your bird have a raptor
head, or a gull-ish head?    Any jaeger / skua would likely show a
noticeable white patch at the base of the primaries, whereas Gyr wouldn't.

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor at att.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel williams" <dwilliamsbirder302 at yahoo.com>
To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 12:36 PM
Subject: [CT Birds] Hammo 10/13 Red Crossbill, Common Eider,Probable Jaeger
sp.


> Hello all,
>   A good day of birding at Hammo through the snow squalls. The flock of
20-25 Red Crossbills continue in the pines near the West Beach parking lot.
After checking on the Crossbills I scanned the sound from the West Beach, I
picked up a large dark bird coming off the sound from the south east. In the
first instant it was spotted my mind jumped to Peregrine but context,
behavior, shape and color rule out peregrine. It was very large and very
dark, flying very levelly and powerfully inches off the water, it glided
only for a split second over the waves. It appeared heavy chested, small
headed and bulky, and as it got closer it appeared all dark, it flew over
miegs point four hundred yards down the beach and disappeared flying west. I
have limited expirience with Jaegers and do not personally feel like I can
responsibly call it one species or another however it is certainly a very
interesting encounter. I realize fully the rarity of Jaegers in Long Island
Sound particularly in
>  the winter.
>            Also, at the end of the Morraine Trail, were 115 dunlin, 1
common Eider, 23 Purple sandpipers.
>   Cheers,
>   Danny Williams
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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