Female Goshawk- Anacortes

26 April 2008 4:30 pm. Gibralter Road Quarry
1 female Goshawk; camera was ready, but was not raised. The bird was too far to the side .EOB- about 200 feet. The bird was flapping (as a Goshawk flaps), gliding, soaring and drifting. The bird went to 600-800 feet elevation. OT- 10 minutes!

Goshawk- Anacortes

19 April 2008 1 pm. Gibralter Road Quarry
1 male Goshawk; the bird was gliding and flapping (as a Goshawk flaps). EOB 300 feet. OT= 1 minute. ALSO; 1 mature male Goshawk. The bird had a square-tip tail. The bird was flapping (as a Goshawk flaps) and gliding, soaring and drifting. EOB- 150 feet, then rising to 600-800 feet. OT- 5 minutes. Location- Pioneer Trails RV Park.

Heading toward Anacortes

14 April 2008 Parker, Arizona - Lazy D RV Park
1 Eurasian Collared Dove - Also, Needles, Ca.; intersection of Rt. 95 and Rt. 40 - 1 Eurasian Collared Dove. 1 male Goshawk; Interstate 5 and exit 27 - near Medford, Oregon; the bird was circling and flapping (as a Goshawk flaps). Elevation of bird 150 feet. Observation time 10 seconds.

Clark's Cooper's Hawk

This photo was taken in Anacortes- just outside city limits; 10-5-04.

I sent 1 photo, a print, to William S. Clark, with a notice that all field guides need to be modified. Mr. Clark responded that he had to side with the birders' of Texas - that I was probably misIDing Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks.

Mr. Clark stated to me by email, that the print was of a nice Cooper's Hawk; the wings were to short; the wing base was not wide enough; the wings were too straight across to be a Goshawk.

This bird and its photo is certainly a Goshawk. This photo shows an accipiter with short wings or medium length wings. The bird is actually a "long winged ", mature female Goshawk. The resultant forces placed upon the wing make the wings seem shorter than what they actually are. This is a chunky bird. The chest is robust; the tail is bulky; the wings are bulky. The sun light is reflecting off the chest (pearly gray).

Please notice: Pete Dunne's "Hawks in Flight", paperback, page 199; Harry Darrow's photo. I have seen photos similar to this one; all claiming Northern Goshawk. Also, on page 54 and 68; David Sibley's art work of a Northern Goshawk with the leading edge of the wings being straight across.

My suggestion: words have meaning. Great emphasis should be placed upon reading the words in "Hawks in Flight". Enjoy!

Goshawk - Bay View, Wa.

1 mature female Goshawk; Braezeale Interpretive Center. 10 days before this sighting, same location, was a mature Goshawk, in flight. I called that bird a male. 9-25-03

Female Goshawks Doubles

2 immature female Goshawks flying wing tip to wing tip. The birds went behind the tall evergreen trees. Then the birds circled out; 1 photo was taken. The birds again disappeared behind the trees. The birds circled out - another photo was taken. The result: 2 photos of 1 bird; or 1 photo of each bird. Location; N. Whidbey Island (2003).

Lay of the land

From Mt.Erie drop down to Scimitar Ridge; then drop toward Rt. 20 and Gibralter Rd.; at this same elevation is Fern Hill Cemetery, Gibralter Road Quarry, and Pioneer Trails RV Park. Then dropping to Similk Bay and Similk Bay Golf Course: all of this area is a contiguous hunting area for Northern Goshawks. I will post this area as (Rt. 20, Gibralter Rd.).

Modifying my reports

In the past, the only reporting related to Goshawk tail-tips, was when the tail-tip was square. Now I will document all tail tips when visible.

Introduction

Dear birders and hawk watchers - and there is a world of difference. I am not really interested in your comments relating to this blog site. I might not even look at your replies. I suggest you send your comments to a list serve such as http://www.birdingonthe.net/. Instructions- click Regional/Specialty; scroll to Western US; then click Tweeters (WA). Paradoxically, I will accept your physical presence with me in the field, and treat you cordially. That might be another way of saying, " money talks- bullshit walks". Not that I accept any monies for my teachings of strategies and insights. Also, you must subscribe to a list serve before you can publish any comments. So, any comments toward me - why not let many others see your expressions.