18 March 2010

The morning of Thursday 18 March proved a very rewarding one for Robert Jutsum. Whilst walking on Saunton Sands, hoping to see some spring migrants such as Sand Martin and Wheatear, he spotted a Gyr Falcon resting on the sand. This is the first record since 1998 for Devon.

Picture 1 – Gyr Falcon, Saunton Sands, Thursday 18 March 2010 – Robert Jutsum. It is difficult to age this bird but the pale yellow feet and bluish bill suggest it is an immature, possibly juvenile bird.

Rob Justsum's morning walk along Saunton Sands was to prove an exciting one when he spotted a white bird sitting on the beach, not an odd looking gull but a Gyr Falcon!

To find your own Gyr falcon must be a heart stopping moment and for it to hang around on a beach long enough for a picture to be taken is truly fortunate. Rob's North Devon walks have been bird rich recently, having found a Common Crane on the estuary but the latest find of and now this vargant Falcon is very rewarding!

Robert Jutsum recalls the days experience; "Weather conditions were looking favourable for spring migrants this morning so I decided to walk along Saunton Sands hoping to see Sand Martin and Wheatear.

After walking for approx one hour in a southerly direction I spotted this beauty resting next to an immature Herring Gull. One very brave immature Herring Gull!

I sat down on a log on the standline & took field notes expecting the bird to fly off at any time and managed to control my excitement.

The bird was still at rest and I decided to make an attempt at photographing it but again I expected it to fly at any moment.

It started to rain and the wind increased just as I got the camera out but I got it, yes thank goodness I did and now I am very excited indeed.

On returning home at 11.20 my wife mentioned that James Leonard had phoned only 10 minutes ago on his mobile to say he was looking at a Gyrfalcon on a post on Sharpa Marshes. Could this be the same bird or another individual?"

DBWPS County Recorder, Mike Langman says; "In recent years Gyr Falcons have been recorded almost annually in Cornwall, but Devon birds are still elusive, with the last visitor being last recorded in 1998 on the Great Mew Stone, Wembury. The white phase birds like this one are generally believed to originate from Greenland. Rob has been fortunate to capture this bird on camera. Congratulations and well done Rob, keep it up!"