[cobirds] Gyrfalcon Larimer

COBirders,

Has anyone seen the Larimer County Gyrfalcon lately? Last update I see is from the day after Christmas so I thought I'd share.  This afternoon 5 Feb 2:45pm at a job site in SW Ft. Collins at the northeast corner of W. Drake Rd & Overland was quite the bird. This is just below the S end of Horsetooth Reservoir. At first glance coming head-on I took it to be just a Red-tailed Hawk doing their rowing flight they often do to power on through at low altitude. As it very quickly passed overhead the wingshape and cadence quickly made it obvious this was no Buteo!  The absolute thickest bodied, most massive falcon I've ever seen. It was so fast I didn't get much of a study, but enough. No black armpits, pretty unremarkable pattern, but the massive body and wide wings were astounding. The only other Gyr I've seen was the Texas bird several years back, which never left its perch during our observation. So, the first time seeing a Gyr in flight is something else.

Good birding,

Derek Hill

Loveland, CO

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