16 March 10 A.M. Aqua Caliente Park
3 NG- Doubles Also! Mel C. and I went goshawk hunting at Aqua Caliente Park. From a very open area in the park- birders will not go there, because they are stuck within their style of birding; not enough greenery. 1 male NG ripping through the sky at 125 feet elevation. OT about 1 minute. Now , on the road outside the park, 1 female NG soaring. OT about 4 minutes. very briefly at the same time another female NG was higher, in the sun. NG doubles! 10 minutes later , 1 female NG came near our position, at 150 feet elevation and went over the park. 2 photos might be placed on my blog.
At 10:30 A.M. at Tanque Verde wash and Houghton Road- NG triples! 15 Ravens were in a kettle with 3 NG -Observation time 10 minutes or more. There was some bumping going on.
Then at 10:45 A.M.- 1 female NG soaring and flapping at Drexel Road and Houghton Road. Evaluation- it certainly appears 4 NG were observed on this hawk watch trip. 3 in one area, the same 3 in another area, and the 4th in another area. The 4th NG was already in the sky as we pulled over to observe it.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Voyager NG Doubles
14 March 7:30 A. M. VRVR
Goshawk doubles! With camera I went walking , to possibly observe a perched NG. 2 female NG together were gliding. These hawks were the size of Red-tailed Hawks. Their wings and tails were very long. The wing beats were very deep, very rapid, and very flexible. Then the wing beats slowed : the wing -tips were pointed and the wings had a moderate "S" shape configuration. Elevation of hawks, 100-125 feet.
Also, 1:30 P.M.- 1 female NG circling and flapping, over Turquoise and 22nd. Elevation of hawk- about 150 feet.
Goshawk doubles! With camera I went walking , to possibly observe a perched NG. 2 female NG together were gliding. These hawks were the size of Red-tailed Hawks. Their wings and tails were very long. The wing beats were very deep, very rapid, and very flexible. Then the wing beats slowed : the wing -tips were pointed and the wings had a moderate "S" shape configuration. Elevation of hawks, 100-125 feet.
Also, 1:30 P.M.- 1 female NG circling and flapping, over Turquoise and 22nd. Elevation of hawk- about 150 feet.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Another RED goshawk
13 March 5:30 P.M. VRVR
1 male NG- Biking with camera for goshawks. A male NG with red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts flew across at about 100 feet elevation. The hawk had a large area of white under tail coverts. The shape, size, and proportions were of a male NG. The wings were short and stubby. The leading and trailing edge of the wing was symmetrical ending with a pointed wing- tip. The chest of the hawk was robust. Then with truck I drove near the restricted area of the complex on Rita Road, where the NG flew, as it departed the RV park. Many times male and female NG will head for this restricted area after cutting through the RV park. This area is basically desert scrub. Note: Northern Goshawks -male and female- do not have to present with an "S" shape configuration to the wing. Don't be so quick to judge a photograph of an accipiter that shows no sign of the "S" shaped wings!
1 male NG- Biking with camera for goshawks. A male NG with red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts flew across at about 100 feet elevation. The hawk had a large area of white under tail coverts. The shape, size, and proportions were of a male NG. The wings were short and stubby. The leading and trailing edge of the wing was symmetrical ending with a pointed wing- tip. The chest of the hawk was robust. Then with truck I drove near the restricted area of the complex on Rita Road, where the NG flew, as it departed the RV park. Many times male and female NG will head for this restricted area after cutting through the RV park. This area is basically desert scrub. Note: Northern Goshawks -male and female- do not have to present with an "S" shape configuration to the wing. Don't be so quick to judge a photograph of an accipiter that shows no sign of the "S" shaped wings!
Voyager NG
11 March 5:30 P.M. VRVR
1 female NG- The hawk was ripping through the Eucalyptus trees, and over and past the trees. The sun was getting low, as the hawk was at about 25 feet elevation and to my front and going away. The chest and belly was of a dull-red vermiculation. Possibly there were many black or dark gray feathers also on chest and belly.
1 female NG- The hawk was ripping through the Eucalyptus trees, and over and past the trees. The sun was getting low, as the hawk was at about 25 feet elevation and to my front and going away. The chest and belly was of a dull-red vermiculation. Possibly there were many black or dark gray feathers also on chest and belly.
Ina Road NGS
9 March 9:30 A.M. Ina Road Dam
1 female NG soaring and flapping at about 200 feet elevation. After 1 minute the hawk just disappeared. The hawk was the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. The wings were long and the folded tail was long. The wing beats were very deep. The wing beats were quite slow and relaxed. The wing tips were pointed. The wings had a moderate "s" shape. 30 minutes later we observed the same hawk. I also observed a male NG rapidly climbing to 200 feet elevation. This NG was flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. The size, shape, and proportions of the NG suggested MALE.
In my 18 years of living with Northern goshawks, I have only observed relatively slow , deep wing beats on 3-4 goshawks and all happened to be female. I will take a stab at it and suggest the reason for this unusual type of flight - The goshawk was fatigued!
There are some birders throughout the U.S. who are just waiting for this type of report, so they can castigate and denegrate me! Well, get yer own blog and CASTigate AWAY.
1 female NG soaring and flapping at about 200 feet elevation. After 1 minute the hawk just disappeared. The hawk was the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. The wings were long and the folded tail was long. The wing beats were very deep. The wing beats were quite slow and relaxed. The wing tips were pointed. The wings had a moderate "s" shape. 30 minutes later we observed the same hawk. I also observed a male NG rapidly climbing to 200 feet elevation. This NG was flapping with very deep, very rapid, and very flexible wing beats. The size, shape, and proportions of the NG suggested MALE.
In my 18 years of living with Northern goshawks, I have only observed relatively slow , deep wing beats on 3-4 goshawks and all happened to be female. I will take a stab at it and suggest the reason for this unusual type of flight - The goshawk was fatigued!
There are some birders throughout the U.S. who are just waiting for this type of report, so they can castigate and denegrate me! Well, get yer own blog and CASTigate AWAY.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Goshawk Triples
As we entered the Voyager RV Resort and its double row of Eucalyptus trees an accipiter was ripping about behind , over and through the trees. The hawk then appeared to our front and at less than 100 feet elevation. It was a male NG with a large patch of white under tail coverts. The hawk had a robust chest. And had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. Goshawks - males and females, have been observed by me, for 6 seasons in Tucson, starting in winter 2000-01. This same male had stubby wings with pointed wing -tips. The structure of the wings was certainly NG, not Cooper's. Then the hawk was rapidly at at about 150 feet elevation, flapping with very rapid, very deep, and very flexible wing beats. The NG was now circling with another NG. And both were flapping as an NG can flap.
About 3 minutes later I was parked at my RV site, and viewing the area naked-eye. At about 150 feet elevation were 2 female NG. These hawks were the size of Red-tailed Hawks. The hawks were typical female NG, with long wings, and long folded tail.
But wait a minute, something is not right here. I know I observed a mature male Goshawk, so how can it be that I am now observing 2 female NG? About 10 seconds later, with the females separated by about 150 yards, a male NG rapidly climbed to be with one of the females, resulting in Goshawk triples!
At times it is possible to observe NG triples near or within 2-3 miles of their nesting site, as the raptors will often take to the sky with their young. It is a common sighting to observe doubles of NG in Tucson, usually 2 females. For 27 months I have been observing NG in Tucson, starting in winter 2000-10.
And not one person in Tucson is interested in this sighting.
About 3 minutes later I was parked at my RV site, and viewing the area naked-eye. At about 150 feet elevation were 2 female NG. These hawks were the size of Red-tailed Hawks. The hawks were typical female NG, with long wings, and long folded tail.
But wait a minute, something is not right here. I know I observed a mature male Goshawk, so how can it be that I am now observing 2 female NG? About 10 seconds later, with the females separated by about 150 yards, a male NG rapidly climbed to be with one of the females, resulting in Goshawk triples!
At times it is possible to observe NG triples near or within 2-3 miles of their nesting site, as the raptors will often take to the sky with their young. It is a common sighting to observe doubles of NG in Tucson, usually 2 females. For 27 months I have been observing NG in Tucson, starting in winter 2000-10.
And not one person in Tucson is interested in this sighting.
Sundown NG
7 March 6:15 P.M. VRVR
1 male NG- ripping through the RV park at about 100 feet elevation. The hawk was pushed by 15 mile per hour winds.
Interesting- at 12:50 P.M.with winds about 25 miles per hour, in the same location, traveling in same direction about 150 feet elevation, was a bird that first thought was a dove, but on second thought was an accipiter, because of the wing's flapping. The hawk seemed too small for a male NG. So, possibly it was a sharpie, but probably too big for a sharpie. If it was a sharpie it was probably the only one I have seen in Tucson. I think the hawk was a male NG.
1 male NG- ripping through the RV park at about 100 feet elevation. The hawk was pushed by 15 mile per hour winds.
Interesting- at 12:50 P.M.with winds about 25 miles per hour, in the same location, traveling in same direction about 150 feet elevation, was a bird that first thought was a dove, but on second thought was an accipiter, because of the wing's flapping. The hawk seemed too small for a male NG. So, possibly it was a sharpie, but probably too big for a sharpie. If it was a sharpie it was probably the only one I have seen in Tucson. I think the hawk was a male NG.
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