I uploaded some more details with my ebird checklist yesterday, but since Gyrfalcon is a 'sensitive species’ in ebird, it doesn’t appear on any lists or alerts. I don’t mind sharing the specifics of this sighting, since the bird could easily be in Quebec by now and is not going to be breeding in the area. Here is the checklist list (minus the big falcon): https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S55795306

And here are my species comments from that checklist: 
'Even without binos this bird got my heart racing. Clearly falcon shape, and a color I've not seen before. The whole bird, including the undertail coverts and underwing, was a relatively uniform color, similar to a 60% cocoa chocolate. It made several passes on the gulls, than slowly gained altitude and drifted east up the river. I watched it with binos for almost 10 mins as it got smaller and smaller, every once and while a pile of gulls would pop up from below where the falcon was. Poor phone video from through my binos: https://vimeo.com/334254952 <https://vimeo.com/334254952>'

Regarding Richard’s Peregrine, the similarity in color, location, and behavior definitely gave me pause. However, I am relatively confident that the bird I saw had dark undertail coverts and chest and was a shade or two warmer brown. Also the mass and power of my bird was startling and quite distinct from the Peregrines I’ve seen in the area numerous times in the past year. That being said, if someone with more falcon experience sees the video above and thinks it fits better for PEFA, I will retract my sighting. I’ve been wrong plenty of times before. 

Happy spring!
Spencer

> On May 4, 2019, at 4:23 PM, Spencer Hardy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> A gorgeous, chocolate brown Gyrfalcon just dove on 600 gulls at the Richmond Park and Ride. I lost site of it as it drifted east up the Winooski.
> Be on the look out in Waterbury and Jericho area!
> 
> More detailed report tonight. 
> Spencer
> 
> Sent from my iPhone