“We think this one has come here as a result of the volcanic dust cloud, which seems to have also attracted a large number of geese too.” — RSBP officer Martin Scott
Scottish bird-watchers have been treated to a visit from an imposing bird of prey that is believed to have been driven from its usual habitat by the massive ash clouds spewed by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
The gyrfalcon spotted on the Isle of Lewis since late April has a wingspan of more than 6 feet.
“Usually, they hang around in the Arctic Circle and move south a little in winter, but very rarely get to the U.K.,” said Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation officer Martin Scott.
He said the ash also appears to have kept a large number of geese in the Outer Hebrides from being able to migrate to the Arctic.
The RSBP said the gyrfalcon could actually be hunting the newly arrived geese.
Photo: RSPB