more weather changes

San Diego; I wanted to test my insights again; how quickly could I find (observe) a Northern Goshawk? I knew (had observed) Goshawks in San Diego coming off of and soaring over the Clairemont Hills. Below these hills is Interstate 5. My observation post was mainly at De Anza RV Park on Mission Bay. Since then the name has changed. It had been cold and raining for many hours. The weatherman said the storm would break in the afternoon. It certainly looked as though the storm would clear around noon. Shortly thereafter the storm rapidly broke. And I grabbed my binos and walked to an area about 1 mile away, closer to the base of the Clairemont Hills. It was a noisy, busy intersection where 5 major roads intersected. No matter - within 10 minutes of my posting, a female Goshawk came off the hill and starting drifting toward me!


Williamsport, Pa.; I was standing on the deck of my apartment, high on a steep hillside, looking toward the Bald Eagle Mountains. Behind the mountains, coming my way, was an electrical storm. Heading toward me were 2 large raptors flying wing tip to wing tip. These birds were moving rapidly; there was no gliding involved. As the birds came near and off to my side, I realised they were female Goshawks. Off to my left was a continuation of the steep hillside (Grampian Hills). At a later date - after many months of observing male and female Goshawks at my residence in the suburbs of Williamsport, I found while walking in the near-by recreational park, fledgling Goshawks creeping along the tree branches. Those 2 female Goshawks were heading home - trying to beat the electrical storm home!

Williamsport, Pa.; It was a cold, damp day, while I was walking the Susquehanna River bike path. It started to snow. Then came a mature male Goshawk; elevation of bird about 100 feet. The bird was rapidly pumping - no gliding for this bird. The bird was trying to beat the storm home. The Grampian Hills were 1 mile away. If the bird was heading the other way, it would be going into the Bald Eagle mountains.