Φωτογραφίες

An impressive bird and the largest of the falcons, the gyrfalcon has a stockier build than the peregrine. Plumage can be dark, white or gray. Most breed north of the timberline and remain in the Arctic all year, but some populations migrate south for the winter. This bird seems to have found a home here in St .John’s.
When hunting, the gyrfalcon flies swiftly near the ground. It can make rapid dives on prey, like the peregrine, but this is less characteristic. Birds are its main prey, although it feeds on some mammals, particularly in winter.
This photograph was taken this morning while I was on an early morning walk around 6:00 AM. I used the optical/digital telephoto lens to take this photograph. Seconds later he attacked a swan but luckily the swan quickly moved his head and the falcon veered away. Fortunately he never returned. Tomorrow morning I will walk early again, in the park, and see what happens.
Down at Quidi Vidi Lake there is a trail of dead seagull’s on the ice. This gyrfalcon seems to be a little larger than a bulky seagull.
This photograph was cropped, sharpened in lab color U. S. M. 90, 2, 3; and framed.