30 December 10:40 A.M. Voyager RV Resort
1 Northern goshawk. The hawk was ripping through the sky at 100 or so feet of elevation. It was cold and windy and wet and raining, with some flecks of sleet. I observed this hawk for about 800 yards of its travel. The sighting was naked- eye.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
just another NG
29 December 9:30 A.M. - VRVR
1 female NG at 150 feet elevation, and with a long glide, and flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. This hawk was heading toward the RV golf course.
Another example of how there are no hawk watchers in Tucson. And how I outshine all birders in Tucson. I am sure the birder's of Tucson are under the impression that to observe a perched raptor is what hawk watching is all about. This is an example of how ignorant birders can be and how easily they are being fooled by the experts. The fact is that the experts in Tucson are not interested in the Goshawks of Tucson. And cannot put the fire in the belly of birders to go out and learn about hawk watching. And this I can understand, as I have failed , and for 6 years in Tucson, to have anyone take an interest in my 17 years of living with Goshawks.
1 female NG at 150 feet elevation, and with a long glide, and flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. This hawk was heading toward the RV golf course.
Another example of how there are no hawk watchers in Tucson. And how I outshine all birders in Tucson. I am sure the birder's of Tucson are under the impression that to observe a perched raptor is what hawk watching is all about. This is an example of how ignorant birders can be and how easily they are being fooled by the experts. The fact is that the experts in Tucson are not interested in the Goshawks of Tucson. And cannot put the fire in the belly of birders to go out and learn about hawk watching. And this I can understand, as I have failed , and for 6 years in Tucson, to have anyone take an interest in my 17 years of living with Goshawks.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Another Common Northern Goshawk
26 December 11:30 A.M. VRVR
1 female NG- circling and flapping at about 75 feet elevation. The hawk was near the golf course. I was with camera and on bike and gave chase, but could not re-observe.The hawk was in hunting mode.
1 female NG- circling and flapping at about 75 feet elevation. The hawk was near the golf course. I was with camera and on bike and gave chase, but could not re-observe.The hawk was in hunting mode.
Explanation of text
Explanation of text: NG- Northern goshawk; F-flapping; S- soaring; G-gliding; VRVR- Voyager RV Resort, S. Kolb Rd., SE. Tucson; EOB- elevation of bird (in feet); OT- observation time.
Monday, December 27, 2010
4 NG within 1 hour?
23 December 10:15 P.M. Sam Lena Park
Mel C. and I were half way around the loop when 7 Grackles were flying in one direction and pigeons were flying in another direction. Within that area but deep into the sky was a goshawk circling and flapping. Observation time about 3 minutes. This hawk could not be seen naked eye, but was glassed and identified.
Then 10 minutes later, as were observing a herd of Jack rabbits, at least 10 of them running, a female NG was circling at about 200 feet elevation. Then out off an evergreen tree flew a raptor. This raptor was also a female NG, working her way upward to join the other female NG. Observation time 8-10 minutes.
Also at 11:30 A.M., a NG flew just over our car as we pulled into the RV resort driveway. Then this female was circling over the desert scrub at about 150 feet elevation. It is possible the first NG sighting was also the first of the NG doubles sighting. Our cameras were at the ready, but were not raised , as the hawks were too far off. 1 perched Merlin was photographed.
Mel C. and I were half way around the loop when 7 Grackles were flying in one direction and pigeons were flying in another direction. Within that area but deep into the sky was a goshawk circling and flapping. Observation time about 3 minutes. This hawk could not be seen naked eye, but was glassed and identified.
Then 10 minutes later, as were observing a herd of Jack rabbits, at least 10 of them running, a female NG was circling at about 200 feet elevation. Then out off an evergreen tree flew a raptor. This raptor was also a female NG, working her way upward to join the other female NG. Observation time 8-10 minutes.
Also at 11:30 A.M., a NG flew just over our car as we pulled into the RV resort driveway. Then this female was circling over the desert scrub at about 150 feet elevation. It is possible the first NG sighting was also the first of the NG doubles sighting. Our cameras were at the ready, but were not raised , as the hawks were too far off. 1 perched Merlin was photographed.
Drive-under NG
20 December 11.30 A.M.- Rt 10 near exit 262
1 NG soaring at about 150 feet elevation. This was a drive-under sighting, going at 65 miles per hour. Once you train yourself to identify raptors naked -eye, then the next step is to cover lots of territory while driving, or in small aircraft and use the naked-eye technique.
1 NG soaring at about 150 feet elevation. This was a drive-under sighting, going at 65 miles per hour. Once you train yourself to identify raptors naked -eye, then the next step is to cover lots of territory while driving, or in small aircraft and use the naked-eye technique.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Correction of date
The last posting was incorrect, when mentioning the female NG of 9 December. The post should have related to the female of 7 December i.e., the 7 and 9 December female NG are the same hawk!
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