6 December 2008 12:30 p.m. - University Arizona, Tucson
I went to UA to try and re-observe the Goshawk(s) I have seen there in previous years, and have photographed in March 2006. At 12:30 p.m. we observed - for 5 minutes- an immature female Goshawk on Speedway. The bird was circling over many pigeons circling, and made a stoop toward a pigeon, but contact was not made. At 1:30 p.m. I observed a female NG south of Broadway- the bird was at 300 -500 feet elevation. OT- 30 seconds.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
NG- RVP
2 December 2008 4 p.m. VRVP
1 NG- the bird was probably male and was about 1 1/2 miles away. The raptor was flapping as a NG flaps. The bird was at elevation of about 100-200 feet as it was perusing the desert scrub, near the prisons on Wilmont Road. The sun was low and made it more difficult to determine the distance to the bird or the EOB. Observation time - about 3 minutes. The bird was ripping up the sky as it made many circles, constantly flapping.
1 NG- the bird was probably male and was about 1 1/2 miles away. The raptor was flapping as a NG flaps. The bird was at elevation of about 100-200 feet as it was perusing the desert scrub, near the prisons on Wilmont Road. The sun was low and made it more difficult to determine the distance to the bird or the EOB. Observation time - about 3 minutes. The bird was ripping up the sky as it made many circles, constantly flapping.
NG- Sam Lena Park
29 November 2008 2:40 p.m. Sam Lena Park -Tucson
1 female NG- the bird made a swing around the very southern end of Sam Lena Park. The bird was the size of a Red-Tailed Hawk. The shape and proportionsof the bird suggested female NG. The bird was flapping as a NG can flap. EOB- about 200 feet.
1 female NG- the bird made a swing around the very southern end of Sam Lena Park. The bird was the size of a Red-Tailed Hawk. The shape and proportionsof the bird suggested female NG. The bird was flapping as a NG can flap. EOB- about 200 feet.
Bingo - female Goshawk
16 November 2008 at sun-up; VRVP
A "large" accipiter cut into the houses 200 yards from my position. It was much too windy to expect observing any perched or in flight raptors. But, near the patio area and flying over and to the side of patio, and heading toward the desert scrub, was a mature female Northern Goshawk. The sighting was naked eye and without my corrective eyeglasses. This is probably the same bird as sun-down bird of the night before. This bird came from the direction of the bird the night before was heading.
A "large" accipiter cut into the houses 200 yards from my position. It was much too windy to expect observing any perched or in flight raptors. But, near the patio area and flying over and to the side of patio, and heading toward the desert scrub, was a mature female Northern Goshawk. The sighting was naked eye and without my corrective eyeglasses. This is probably the same bird as sun-down bird of the night before. This bird came from the direction of the bird the night before was heading.
Tucson winter 2008-09
15 November 2008 - We arrived in Tucson on November 15. At after sun-down a large raptor came over head at about 75-100 feet elevation. The bird was pumping slowly with pointed wing tips. The wings were long and quite thin. The tail was long for a buteo. If this bird was a female Goshawk, then it is a Goshawk with a very short tail. I glassed the bird- it appeared the ventral areas were of a light color, i.e., gray. The bird was probably a female Goshawk. In the morning I will track to where the bird headed and try to photograph the perched bird.
Monday, June 2, 2008
definition of abbreviations
NG= Northern Goshawk; F= flapping; G=gliding; S=soaring; RVP= Voyager RV Park, just outside city limits of Tucson; RT10 and S. Kolb Rd.; EOB=elevation of bird; OT=observation time
4 winters of NG tucson
I have lived with NG inTucson for 4 winters, starting in 2000-01. In 2007-08, I had 44 daily-sightings of NG during my 6 month (minus 9 days in Washington state) visit. During those 6 months I observed 5 sets of doubles! 2 of the sets were females, and 2 sets were male and female. 1 set was not sexed or aged, since I was chasing the birds and trying to work with camera in order to get photographs. All the photographs were taken by me, except for the 1 photo by Bert Jackson, and I was witness to that photographing. In winter, NG in Tucson, and just out side of city limits are a common species, and are "readily available for observation". Please note: I am referring to raptors in flight, not perched raptors.
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