Showing posts with label female Goshawk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label female Goshawk. Show all posts

Saturday, May 17, 2008

female Goshawk

8 February 2008 11:05 AM. RVP
1 mature female Goshawk: EOB- 100 feet. OT- about 5 minutes. 2 photos were keepers, one better than the other. The photo shows red vermiculation on chest and under wing coverts.
14 February 2008 11:00 AM. Continental Ranch (lake), Marana area.
With Bert Jackson; 1 Snowy Egret; in water and in flight. I also think I saw enough of a perched bird to say it was probably a Purple Finch. Around 12 February in the desert scrub at elevation of less than 3,000 feet, in Tucson: 2 sets of Purple Finches. Only 1 bird of each set was seen well enough to make my decision. One partner of one bird's tail was also seen - the tail was short and deeply forked. I am very excited of these observations, and the sighting of 14 February. I am impressed with Cornell's Web Site - drawings - of the Purple, Cassin's, and House Finch. Of course, the words relating toward the identification should be heeded.
Identifying a male or female Purple Finch is not at all difficult!! Size matters - shape matters! Size and shape of bill and tail matters! Color matters - extensiveness of color does not matter; Don't complicate the issue! Facial markings of the female Purple Finch ( the 3 similar finches) matters!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

female Goshawk

17 January 2008 3:30 PM. RVP
1 female Goshawk; possible immature.
The bird was cutting through the RV park at elevation of about 100 feet overhead; gliding and flapping. OT- 20 seconds. The bird gained elevation over the desert scrub. The bird had deep wing beats- somewhat leisurely for a Goshawk. The wing beats were stiff - and the wings were flat, not pleated or flexible. The wing beats were Cooper's-like - but too deep and leisurely for a Cooper's. Is this an indication of the bird being immature?

female Goshawk

13 January 2008 1:45 PM. RVP
1 female NG; hunting
The bird was flapping (as a Goshawk flaps) and gliding and circling and dipping; EOB- about 150 feet. OT- 1-2 minutes. Bright sun; winds gusting to 10 miles per hour.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

female Goshawk

26 October 2007; 10:20 AM., RVP
1 Raven was soaring and flapping - OT about 4 minutes; the bird flew away - and in its place; 1 female Goshawk- flapping, soaring, gliding and drifting. This was a strikingly contrasty; black and white (ventral areas) bird. I am calling the bird a sub adult. EOB- 250 feet, OT- 5 minutes. The sighting would have been longer, but for a conversation and the structure of a building.