Hello fellow biders, Reports of gray-phased Gyrfalcon came in on January 27, 28 and 30th in Sault Ste. Marie. All of these reports were only for single birds being seen perched or flying at the foot of Pine Street (Canadian Forest Service).
Today two large (possible females), gray-phase Gryfalcon were seen on the St. Mary's River ice today in Sault Ste. Marie (these two birds are likely the same two that were seen on January 23rd with a smaller (possible male) Gyrfalcon). Both birds were seen flying together in an upstream direction from Belleview Park across a small pocket of open water, where one succeeded in catching a Common Goldeneye. The two birds continued flying upstream for nearly 1/2 km before landing on the ice out in front of the District OMNR office. At this point both birds proceeded to feed on their prey while a small group of OMNR employees watched in delight. Sault Ste. Marie has had several sightings of Gyrfalcon this winter with the first being spotted on November 28, 2002. Based on the bird records collected for the area, a minimum of 3 and possibly a maximum of 5 different birds have visted the Sault this winter. Just a note of Interest for those tracking Waxwing activities and movements. Cedar Waxwing (and some Bohemian) have been consistently observed throughout the city and on St. Joseph's Island the last three weeks. Up until three weeks ago waxwing sightings were spotty despite tremendous mountain-ash and crab-apple fruit crops still remaining. Ken McIlwrick [EMAIL PROTECTED] Forest Ecologist / Ecologiste forestier Canadian Forest Service / Service canadien des Forests Great Lakes Forestry Centre, 1219 Queen St. E. Centre de foresterie des Grands Lacs, 1219, rue Queen Est Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 2E5 Tel/Tél(705)541-5643,Fax/Téléc (705)-541-5700 "McIlwrick, Ken" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
