[mou] Gyrfalcon in Dakota Cty

[Jim Ryan]

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Hello Birders,
Out for a leisurely car birding trip with my good luck charm (my wife), we
spied a Gray phase Gyrfalcon on Hwy 52 just south of the Gas refinery at
about 12:20pm.  It flew about 30 yards in front of our car with those quick
semi-folded wingbeats at 10 o'clock high.  I instantly knew it was not a
buteo and turned off on 140th st. (the western leg that's directly off on
Hwy 52) to get a second look.   I respotted it perched on top of a metal
pole along the highway.  I had time to get out my scope to get a good look
at it.  It remained there almost 5 minutes until a pair of Red-tailed hawks
came and chased it away.  One flew directly at it and took over its spot on
the top of the power pole.  It was a chance to see this bird was only
slightly smaller than the RT.  The Gyr flew off to the NW as the other hawk
followed it out of sight over the tree line.

--

James F. Ryan

651-308-0234 cell

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<div>Hello Birders,</div>
<div>Out for&nbsp;a leisurely car birding trip with my good luck charm (my =
wife), we spied a Gray phase Gyrfalcon on Hwy 52 just south of the Gas refi=
nery at about 12:20pm.&nbsp; It flew about 30 yards in front of our car wit=
h those quick semi-folded wingbeats at 10 o'clock high.&nbsp; I instantly k=
new it was not a buteo and turned off on 140th st. (the western leg&nbsp;th=
at's directly off on Hwy 52) to get a second look.&nbsp; &nbsp;I respotted =
it perched on top of a metal pole along the highway.&nbsp; I had time to ge=
t out my scope to get a good look at it.&nbsp; It remained there almost 5 m=
inutes&nbsp;until a pair of Red-tailed hawks came and chased it away.&nbsp;=
 One flew directly at it and took over its spot on the top of the power pol=
e.&nbsp; It was a chance to see this bird was only slightly smaller than th=
e RT.&nbsp; The Gyr flew off to the NW as the other hawk followed it out of=
 sight over the tree line.
<br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><br>James F. Ryan<br><br>651-308-0234 cell<br>=
&nbsp;</div>

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