Post by Gord on Jan 14, 2012 0:00:44 GMT -8
On my way through Agassiz this afternoon driving the 'shortcut' down to Whelpton Road I stopped at the intersection of Tuyttens and Mountainview Road for a school bus. On the right were a lot of Trumpeter Swans in a field. On the left watching them, was a large raptor. The shape and posture said falcon, and the size suggested Gyrfalcon. The binoculars removed all the guesses. 
A beautiful young bird that allowed a couple quick shots with not fuss.
A good fieldmark is that the wingtips on a perched bird does not reach the end of the tail as shown by the red marks. Peregrine Falcon's wingtips reach the tail tip or are very close. Prairie Falcon is somewhere between the two but the sandy brown plumage is distinctive.
A beautiful young bird that allowed a couple quick shots with not fuss.A good fieldmark is that the wingtips on a perched bird does not reach the end of the tail as shown by the red marks. Peregrine Falcon's wingtips reach the tail tip or are very close. Prairie Falcon is somewhere between the two but the sandy brown plumage is distinctive.
