Breckland Birder

Breckland Birder
Red Deer in Breckland, Norfolk Photo by Paul Newport

Saturday 6 July 2019

Best views ever of Goshawk today

It was a last moment thing, do I take the 'scope, or don't I, well, I did, and what a great decision this was.
I visited a local site to my home this morning and was immediately greeted by flocks of juvenile and adult Blue and Coal Tits.  A Buzzard was perched in a nearby treetop and was investigated by a male Marsh Harrier, the Harrier then alighted in a treetop and then commenced to preen was running its bill along the feather shaft.  Moments later, the Marsh Harrier adopted an alert posture and had clearly fixed its gaze on something, that something was a juvenile Goshawk, the Harrier launched itself towards the more powerful raptor, however, the table was very quickly turned and the Goshawk gave chase for the Harrier before alighting in the crown of a tree where it remained for about 30 minutes, offering superb 'scoped views.  Despite excellent 'scoped views of the Goshawk, it was too distant for close shots with the camera.
Goshawk (juvenile) 6th July
Juvenile Goshawk 6th July
Juvenile Goshawk showing the pale feather fringes to the upperparts
A dual of Raptors (Note the powerfully built Goshawk)
The Goshawk remained in the tree for about 30 minutes, it was always alert, constantly turning its head, and watched intently as a Wood Pigeon flew by.  This was a very large, powerful bird appearing sometimes upright and alert in the tree, but also standing horizontally on a branch with feathers fluffed up giving it a less sleek appearance from when bolt upright.
The upperparts were brown with pale buff fringing to the feathers, this in flight gave a scaly appearance to the upperparts.  The underparts were pale buff with heavy dark droplets forming streaks to the breast, although lower down towards the legs these markings became narrower and finer.

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