Hi MD Osprey:

The bird returned later and some photos were 
taken. A few people have looked at them and it 
appears the bird is probably not a Gry ... 
looking more like a juvie Red-shouldered Hawk.

So, you might want to reconsider if you were 
planning to chase for a lifer or state Gyr.

Phil


At 01:37 PM 02/24/2010, Phil Davis wrote:
>MD Osprey:
>
>I am taking the liberty of forwarding this immediately to the list ..
>
> From an Internet search, it appears that Stacey 
> lives near Adirondack Drive in the Frederick 
> area, west of Rt 15 and north of Ft. Deterick.
>
>Phil
>
>
>>From: "Stacey Herbst" <>
>>To: <>
>>Subject: gyrfalcon!
>>Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:47:04 -0500
>>
>>I am so excited to report that I saw a 
>>gyrfalcon in my neighborhood in Frederick, MD 
>>this morning!  I am a very experienced birder 
>>(over 20 years) and I got an excellent view of him.
>>
>>Today while leaving my neighborhood, I noticed 
>>a large “hawk” ahead on the road picking at 
>>carrion.  ??  They usually don’t do that, and 
>>it caught my attention.  I drove closer, and 
>>this thing just wouldn’t leave.  It actually 
>>tried to pick up the possum carcass and fly 
>>with it, but it was too heavy, so the bird sat 
>>back down on the road.  I stopped about 20 feet 
>>from it and I knew immediately what it was, 
>>having seen a pair of these about 20 years ago 
>>in PA as identified by an expert birder.  It 
>>was a gyrfalcon!  I am 100% certain, no doubt 
>>about it whatsoever, I wouldn’t report it if I 
>>wasn’t positive.  I watched it for a full 
>>minute at close range (20-40 feet as it moved 
>>from the road to an adjacent dogwood 
>>tree).  About 22”, long squarish falcon tail, 
>>gray/brown streaked and mottled, long legs, 
>>whitish strip over the eye… Of course, I 
>>consulted my references when I got home, but 
>>really, nothing else matches this 
>>description.  I am very familiar with the other 
>>species in our area, and this was nothing I’m 
>>used to seeing.  Although why he was 
>>scavenging, I’m not sure.  Winter must be 
>>especially harsh up north to have pushed him 
>>this far south.  Very rare, very cool.  Saw him 
>>again on the way back.  I’ve been watching out 
>>the window hoping to see him again and get a picture.
>>
>>Hope you find that as exciting as I did!
>>
>>Stacey Herbst
>>
>>
>
>==================================
>Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
>==================================