20 February 11 A.M. VRVR
1 female NG circling. Then this hawk dropped to about 100 feet elevation and did battle, briefly, with another female NG, or maybe they were cavorting. Then they split as one hawk went to about 300 feet elevation and the other hawk was at 150 feet elevation. Both hawks were the size of Red-tailed Hawks, and flapped with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. Observing the hawks broad-side in a glide, the head was hidden in the valley of the wrists. With folded tails- the tails had a broad base with this broadness carried throughout the length of the tail. The hawks were long winged with very long tails. Observation time about 4 minutes.
10 minutes later, over the desert scrub was a female NG far off , at about 300 feet elevation. I observed this female NG as it drifted toward me, over the Rv park. Now the sun was out and the hawk was observed (glassed)to be mature. OT about 10 minutes. Photographs were taken and might be presented (only) on my blog.
This sighting of goshawk doubles -and in Tucson- is NOT a rare event!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Mature male NG- VRVR
17 February 5:45 P.M. VRVR
1 mature male NG- this hawk glided over the RV park, overhead, at less than 100 feet elevation. The sun was bright and lit-up the ventral area of the hawk. The chest and belly was pearly-gray. The hawk was also observed 200 yards away as it was circling over the roof tops, with very rapid, very flexible, and very deep wing beats. Then with camera I went to chase, but came up empty. The sighting was naked -eye.
1 mature male NG- this hawk glided over the RV park, overhead, at less than 100 feet elevation. The sun was bright and lit-up the ventral area of the hawk. The chest and belly was pearly-gray. The hawk was also observed 200 yards away as it was circling over the roof tops, with very rapid, very flexible, and very deep wing beats. Then with camera I went to chase, but came up empty. The sighting was naked -eye.
Lakeside Park- NG
15 February 12:40 P.M. Lakeside Park
1 male NG, circling over and over again. the hawk was at about 600 feet elevation. I was posted at the park- the hawk was far-off.
1 male NG, circling over and over again. the hawk was at about 600 feet elevation. I was posted at the park- the hawk was far-off.
NG- Drive -by
13 February 11:30 A.M. VRVR
1 NG circling over the houses at about 100-150 feet elevation. And was also flapping and gliding with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. This sighting was a drive-by, naked -eye, of course.
1 NG circling over the houses at about 100-150 feet elevation. And was also flapping and gliding with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. This sighting was a drive-by, naked -eye, of course.
NG- Voyager RV Resort
11 February 3 P.M. VRVR
1 NG circling over and over again, at about 200 feet elevation, at Voyager RV Resort. The hawk was also flapping with very deep, very flexible, and very rapid wing beats. Observation time 3-4 minutes.
1 NG circling over and over again, at about 200 feet elevation, at Voyager RV Resort. The hawk was also flapping with very deep, very flexible, and very rapid wing beats. Observation time 3-4 minutes.
Female NG - VRVR
10 February 3:15 P.M. VRVR
1 female NG circling near the RV resort, at about 200 feet elevation. The hawk went to about 500 feet elevation. OT about 4 minutes.
1 female NG circling near the RV resort, at about 200 feet elevation. The hawk went to about 500 feet elevation. OT about 4 minutes.
WOW- no NG sighting today
6 February 10:30 A.M. VRVR
33 Ravens in a kettle at about 1,000 feet elevation. When they spilled out of the kettle, is when I made an accurate count.
33 Ravens in a kettle at about 1,000 feet elevation. When they spilled out of the kettle, is when I made an accurate count.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
just another NG sighting
5 February 2011 11 A.M. VRVR
1 female NG- circling at 150 feet elevation. This hawk was also gliding and flapping, with very deep, very flexible, and very rapid wing beats. OT about 4 minutes.
1 female NG- circling at 150 feet elevation. This hawk was also gliding and flapping, with very deep, very flexible, and very rapid wing beats. OT about 4 minutes.
A goshawk ripping
3 February 2011 9:30 A.M. VRVR
1 NG- ripping through the sky at about 150 feet elevation. The hawk was steady pumping, with deep, flexible,and very rapid wing beats. The temp's were in the low 30's with about a 5 mile per hour wind.
1 NG- ripping through the sky at about 150 feet elevation. The hawk was steady pumping, with deep, flexible,and very rapid wing beats. The temp's were in the low 30's with about a 5 mile per hour wind.
Mature female NG
16 January 2011 2 P.M. VRVR
1 mature female NG at 200 feet elevation, circling over and over again. The sighting was naked eye and at least 8 people observed this hawk. And not one of them knew what they were looking at. One of them was a birder. But , if every one of them was a birder or even an advanced birder, not one of them whould have any confidence in identifying this Goshawk.
1 mature female NG at 200 feet elevation, circling over and over again. The sighting was naked eye and at least 8 people observed this hawk. And not one of them knew what they were looking at. One of them was a birder. But , if every one of them was a birder or even an advanced birder, not one of them whould have any confidence in identifying this Goshawk.
female NG- Voyager RV Resort
14 January 11:30 A.M. VRVR
1 female NG at about 200 feet elevation. The hawk was circling over and over again. OT- 5 minutes. The hawk had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. The tail -tip was irregular, with a thick , white terminal band. The base of the tail was very wide - with this wideness carried throughout the length of the tail.
1 female NG at about 200 feet elevation. The hawk was circling over and over again. OT- 5 minutes. The hawk had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. The tail -tip was irregular, with a thick , white terminal band. The base of the tail was very wide - with this wideness carried throughout the length of the tail.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Rita Ranch Complex NG
11 January 2011 1:30 P.M. Rita Ranch Complex
7 pigeons were circling low over the houses, giving me concern that a Goshawk was about. At about 800 feet elevation was a NG circling over and over again; the hawk never flapped its wings. This hawk was probably a female because of the length of the wings; or it was a long-winged male. The hawk had a rounded tail tip with a thick, white terminal band.
7 pigeons were circling low over the houses, giving me concern that a Goshawk was about. At about 800 feet elevation was a NG circling over and over again; the hawk never flapped its wings. This hawk was probably a female because of the length of the wings; or it was a long-winged male. The hawk had a rounded tail tip with a thick, white terminal band.
Agua Caliente Park NG
4 January 2011 1o:15 A.M. Agua Caliente Park
1 male NG circling and flapping. Observation time about 3 minutes. We drove away from the area with the hawk yet circling.
Also observed was Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. 5 of us observed and identified the bird. There after, I called the bird in and also identified it- naked eye.
Also at 5:15 P.M. a NG was flying and pumping over the resident's roof tops at Voyager RV Resort.
1 mature Peregrine Falcon was soaring over 22nd and Houghton at 12 P.M.
1 male NG circling and flapping. Observation time about 3 minutes. We drove away from the area with the hawk yet circling.
Also observed was Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. 5 of us observed and identified the bird. There after, I called the bird in and also identified it- naked eye.
Also at 5:15 P.M. a NG was flying and pumping over the resident's roof tops at Voyager RV Resort.
1 mature Peregrine Falcon was soaring over 22nd and Houghton at 12 P.M.
mature Male NG
3 January 2011 11 A.M. Kolb Road And Broadway
1 mature male NG - Pigeons circling about at 100 feet elevation ; with them was a male NG, and then by itself. This sighting was a drive-under as the NG was circling, and flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. The chest and belly showed that the hawk was mature. The sighting was naked eye, and the chest and belly also showed reddish. Now if this belly and chest was a buffy -red, naked eye, what would the intensity of the red become if the hawk were viewed with binos! Answer - a stronger red!
1 mature male NG - Pigeons circling about at 100 feet elevation ; with them was a male NG, and then by itself. This sighting was a drive-under as the NG was circling, and flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. The chest and belly showed that the hawk was mature. The sighting was naked eye, and the chest and belly also showed reddish. Now if this belly and chest was a buffy -red, naked eye, what would the intensity of the red become if the hawk were viewed with binos! Answer - a stronger red!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
NG- Voyager RV Resort
31 December 11:30 A.M. VRVR
As I was relaxing in my truck- to the front at about 200 yards away 1 Northern goshawk lifted off from the house , at about 60 feet elevation, and just as quickly dropped back down into the very small back yard of the house. This is private property, with a brick wall and some greenery.
Later, at 3:30 P.M., I took a walk along the wide grassy dog -walk behind the houses.
About 200 yards up the walk a male NG raced from the houses, upward and away. I gave a 45 minute walk to many areas in this very large RV park, with camera, but came up empty. It was cold and windy. For many years I have been alerting birders and Audubon officials about this hot spot- but not a peep from any of them.
As I was relaxing in my truck- to the front at about 200 yards away 1 Northern goshawk lifted off from the house , at about 60 feet elevation, and just as quickly dropped back down into the very small back yard of the house. This is private property, with a brick wall and some greenery.
Later, at 3:30 P.M., I took a walk along the wide grassy dog -walk behind the houses.
About 200 yards up the walk a male NG raced from the houses, upward and away. I gave a 45 minute walk to many areas in this very large RV park, with camera, but came up empty. It was cold and windy. For many years I have been alerting birders and Audubon officials about this hot spot- but not a peep from any of them.
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