[mou] Gyrfalcon at Superior Wisconsin Landfill on Sunday Morning

[DWassme1]

Sunday 08mar03 - We arrived at the grain elevator area of Duluth about
7:00 am (-10F/-30F wind chill factor), and searched for raptors for
about an hour.  None were observed, and we headed to Superior to check
out Wisconsin Point and the landfill.  The only birds we observed at
Wisconsin Point and along the two other Lake Superior access points were
Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.  However, upon our
8:30 am arrival at the landfill, we were pleasantly surprised. Despite
the temperature's rapid rise, it was too cold (5 F in downtown Superior)
for us to climb the hills, so we birded from the car.  There were a lot
of active Common Ravens, American Crows, and European Starlings.  Soon,
we observed an adult Bald Eagle fly over the landfill area and stir up
the birds.  Then we saw a light-morph Rough-legged hawk hunt the area.  

About 9:00 am, an adult grey-morph Gyrfalcon flew across the landfill
from left to right and directly in front of us.  Its appearance caused
all of the birds to scatter, and the starlings (about 100) headed to the
right (west?) from the left mound and began to climb at about a 35-40
degree angle in a tight flock.  The Gyrfalcon continued on a level plane
until it was over the center of the right-hand hill, and then it
performed an amazing feat.  It climbed nearly vertically about 100-150
ft and easily closed on the "escaping" flock of starlings from below and
slightly behind (in about 2-3 seconds), and grabbed one as it shot
through the flock.  The starling appeared to be about 1/3 the size of
the Gyrfalcon, which turned toward us and the lake.  We had very
satisfying views as the Gyrfalcon flew over our car at an altitude of
about 100 ft, carrying the starling to the nearby woods.  

We then observed a juvenile Bald Eagle hunt the landfill, and then a
Northern Goshawk coursed over at a high altitude and the turned back and
crossed over at a lower altitude.  The 4 species of Gulls (Thayer's,
Glaucous, Iceland, and Herring) showed up about 9:45, and were on the
wing most of the time until our departure, allowing excellent study.

About 10:15 am, the Gyrfalcon made another pass (right to left) over the
landfill, but was unsuccessful in capturing a starling in a
"straight-ahead" attack.  It passed out of sight only to return again
about 10:30 am, again passing over the landfill left to right, and using
the same maneuver to capture a starling from below and behind. This one
was carried off to the west. We can see why European Kings used this
bird to hunt!  

About 11:00 am, a van-load of birders from Lacrosse, Wisconsin showed
up.  They saw the gulls, another adult Bald Eagle, and another
Rough-legged hawk, but the Gyrfalcon did now shown up again by the time
we left at 12:30.  Four hours at the landfill had provided us with an
excellent show, and some pretty good birding.  The Gyrfalcon was a lower
48 states record for us, and only the third we have seen.  The Iceland
gull was our second record, as was the Glaucous Gull - also a lower 48
record.

We'll post a full trip report later.  Since the Gryfalcon has not been
reported for a few days, and not from this site, we thought that you
Minnesota Birders might want to see this report today.

Doug Wassmer & Lilian Saul
Tampa, Florida (hot & muggy)
Dwassme1@tampabay.rr.com