GYRFALCON - Golden Mile Shopping Centre, Toronto

[Bluffs Birder]

A white morph Gyrfalcon has been seen several times by a number of birders this afternoon hunting and eating in the south-west parking lot of the Golden Mile Shopping Centre.  Apparently the bird has been around for a couple of weeks but was only 'confirmed' today as sightings have been sporadic and very short.  The bird sat several times on a small communications antenna towards the back (north) end of the centre and landed several times on various light standards in the parking lot.

As with all shopping malls, this is a very busy place on the weekend and drivers don't always obey the signs so be careful.

The Golden Mile is located at the corner of Victoria Park Avenue and Eglinton Avenue.

Walter

[BIGFRANK]

From photos for sure there is a breeders band on the bird, thus it is an escapee. Still a beauty to see and watch hunt. (It caught 2 pigeons that people witnessed today), but alas not officially countable for those with official life lists.  :x  :roll:

[paul_reeves]

I have posted some shots on my web site for anyone interested in taking a look. The shots were taken just before sunset under very overcast conditions so the lighting isn't great.

http://www.paulreeves.ca/html/nature/bi ... alcon.html

Paul

[mr.sharp-photo]

pretty excited. going to take a look on Sunday (assuming it will be around for the winter)

[Howieh]

Now THAT'S what I got the SX50 for!! Please keep us informed!

[BIGFRANK]

There is a pretty good chance the owner will come to see if he/she can capture the bird. Its ranging sometimes as far as Don Mills and Eglinton. The falconry community knows of it by now since it is posted on Ont Birds.

[Leslie Kinrys]

We went to see the bird today. We saw it early in the day, but it flew off. We were told to come back around 4 pm, when it feeds at the end of the day. It was perched on a white pole on the Bell building. When it took off, a Peregrine Falcon suddenly attacked it. The Peregrine was sreaming as it would dive at the Gyrfalcon. After a while, the Gyrfalcon would try to grab the Peregrine. It was a very exciting dog fight and very entertaining for the birders there.

[birddog]

It's now on The Star's web site http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/50a0 ... ce08002783. The owner will surely take notice, see him while you can!

[zadore]

The Star's article (non-iPad version) can be found here - http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article ... pping-mall

[Photowyzard]

Beautiful images, Paul, thanks for sharing them.

[mr.sharp-photo]

is the falcon still there?

[paul_reeves]

The last time I was there was late Saturday afternoon and id didn't make an appearance.

Paul

[dizzy]

I was there Sunday morning, it wasn't there. It was still an interesting morning, we did get to witness a Kestrel take down a House sparrow. And an adult Cooper hawk came in for a swoosh to try and snag a pigeon but had no luck.

Mike

[Craig McL]

There is a pretty good chance the owner will come to see if he/she can capture the bird. Its ranging sometimes as far as Don Mills and Eglinton. The falconry community knows of it by now since it is posted on Ont Birds.

ya big Frank i saw it will driving up the don valley park way at   Eglinton Avenue sheer was nice to watch it hunt

Craig

[Lee]

Has anyone seen it recently?  I've been to the plaza a few times in the past 2 weeks but all I've seen is pigeons, gulls, an occasional red-tailed hawk and cooper's hawk and that's been it.