Thursday, January 14, 2010
Goshawks of Houston
My many sightings of Goshawks in Kemah, and my single sightings in other areas- which might be called by goshawks as "nearby", even though they are 5 miles apart- such as the Houston Cruise Line and the Bacliff area, do not suggest that there are 3 female and 1 male in this contiguous area. I have never been able to get into position where I was beneath the hawk in order to observe the tail-tip shape nor the width of the terminal band. With information from these 2 factors, I can form an opinion as to how many NG are in the Kemah area. As it stands now, I know the NG observed in Bacliff was mature female, but this is not enough information relating to the total picture. It is possible that there are 3 different mature female NG!
female gos- Kemah
11 January- 11 A.M. Kemah
1 female NG- 50 pigeons lifted, but did not get much higher than the tall roof top. The pigeons seemed to panic and split- one group turned in the other direction. I use pigeons and doves as an indicator of the sign of falcons and accipiters. Well behind and above the pigeons was a female NG heading toward the pigeons and me. The hawk was coming from the birding sanctuary community of Clear Lake Shores ( Jarboe Bayou). The hawk was soaring and flapping, circling, and climbing to 400 feet elevation, from 300 feet elevation. Observation time 5 minutes. The sun was bright. This accipiter was typical Goshawk- soaring as a Red-tailed hawk can soar!
Also- 1 female Goshawk- same location at 2 P.M.
The hawk was in straight -away flight at 200 feet elevation. The hawk was heading toward Walmart on 518. Observation time about 2 minutes. The hawk was too far off to attempt to photograph.
1 female NG- 50 pigeons lifted, but did not get much higher than the tall roof top. The pigeons seemed to panic and split- one group turned in the other direction. I use pigeons and doves as an indicator of the sign of falcons and accipiters. Well behind and above the pigeons was a female NG heading toward the pigeons and me. The hawk was coming from the birding sanctuary community of Clear Lake Shores ( Jarboe Bayou). The hawk was soaring and flapping, circling, and climbing to 400 feet elevation, from 300 feet elevation. Observation time 5 minutes. The sun was bright. This accipiter was typical Goshawk- soaring as a Red-tailed hawk can soar!
Also- 1 female Goshawk- same location at 2 P.M.
The hawk was in straight -away flight at 200 feet elevation. The hawk was heading toward Walmart on 518. Observation time about 2 minutes. The hawk was too far off to attempt to photograph.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Female Gos- Cruise terminal
9 January 2010- A.M. and P.M.- Armand Bayou area and Port Road - Todville Road.
1 female goshawk- a fly over-drive under sighting. The goshawk was at 300-400 feet elevation and very near the Houston Cruise Terminal. The hawk showed long wings with pointed tips , in a glide. The tail was very long; a large patch of white under tail coverts; wings flat and stiff and straight out to the sides of the body.
We went driving for raptors in flight and perched, on this sunny morning and afternoon. We drove for 50 miles and saw only 3 perched Red-tail Hawks and 3 perched Black Vultures. In flight were observed 3 Black Vultures and 1 T.V. The T. V. was soaring at less than 100 feet elevation. This is another example of how the Goshawk is "readily available for observation".
1 female goshawk- a fly over-drive under sighting. The goshawk was at 300-400 feet elevation and very near the Houston Cruise Terminal. The hawk showed long wings with pointed tips , in a glide. The tail was very long; a large patch of white under tail coverts; wings flat and stiff and straight out to the sides of the body.
We went driving for raptors in flight and perched, on this sunny morning and afternoon. We drove for 50 miles and saw only 3 perched Red-tail Hawks and 3 perched Black Vultures. In flight were observed 3 Black Vultures and 1 T.V. The T. V. was soaring at less than 100 feet elevation. This is another example of how the Goshawk is "readily available for observation".
Kemah- Goshawk
8 January 2010- 3 P.M.- Kemah
1 Goshawk- about 15 pigeons lifted from a hidden position. As I went to glass the pigeons in order to count them, an object was well to the left and well behind the pigeons, 1 Goshawk ripping through the sky, just a very quick look.
I have claimed this area as a hot spot for Goshawks male and female. Every one of my Goshawk sightings from this area, except one, is on private property, observing over the trees, slough, pasture, and scrub. The best and closest location for observing the goshawks are very near, or on the Walmart property on 518. Do not expect to find Goshawks perched.
1 Goshawk- about 15 pigeons lifted from a hidden position. As I went to glass the pigeons in order to count them, an object was well to the left and well behind the pigeons, 1 Goshawk ripping through the sky, just a very quick look.
I have claimed this area as a hot spot for Goshawks male and female. Every one of my Goshawk sightings from this area, except one, is on private property, observing over the trees, slough, pasture, and scrub. The best and closest location for observing the goshawks are very near, or on the Walmart property on 518. Do not expect to find Goshawks perched.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Merlin doubles
7 January 2010 A. M. - Kemah
2 Merlins ripping into each other, or was it just 1 Merlin being the attacker. The hawks were ripping through the sky, trees, and low to the ground. The hawks were very dark. It was very cold and very windy.
2 Merlins ripping into each other, or was it just 1 Merlin being the attacker. The hawks were ripping through the sky, trees, and low to the ground. The hawks were very dark. It was very cold and very windy.
2 goshawks
5 January 2010 9:30 A.M. - Kemah
2 Goshawks! So why is it - I am not observing that male NG I saw with pigeons on that foggy day? It was weeks ago and we saw many rainy, foggy days- and that is the answer- poor weather conditions.
Now it is cold with temps in the middle 30's with 5 miles per hour wind- but it was also clear- with bright sun. Goshawks love the wind, sun, clouds , and thermals. Far off was a male Goshawk, soaring and flapping, over and over again. The hawk was at 500 feet elevation. The reason why it was male - because of the speed and agility of the accipiter. 10 minutes later a female goshawk was slowly soaring, closer to my position, at about 500 feet elevation. Also, was observed a mature Red -shouldered Hawk, a female Merlin perched, a mature male Osprey, Turkey and Black Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Crested Caracara.
Also- same day, same location: 1 female goshawk soaring at about 500 feet elevation, with a Black Vulture and a T.V. Observation time about 10 minutes, as this hawk went from my front to my left, far away.
2 Goshawks! So why is it - I am not observing that male NG I saw with pigeons on that foggy day? It was weeks ago and we saw many rainy, foggy days- and that is the answer- poor weather conditions.
Now it is cold with temps in the middle 30's with 5 miles per hour wind- but it was also clear- with bright sun. Goshawks love the wind, sun, clouds , and thermals. Far off was a male Goshawk, soaring and flapping, over and over again. The hawk was at 500 feet elevation. The reason why it was male - because of the speed and agility of the accipiter. 10 minutes later a female goshawk was slowly soaring, closer to my position, at about 500 feet elevation. Also, was observed a mature Red -shouldered Hawk, a female Merlin perched, a mature male Osprey, Turkey and Black Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Crested Caracara.
Also- same day, same location: 1 female goshawk soaring at about 500 feet elevation, with a Black Vulture and a T.V. Observation time about 10 minutes, as this hawk went from my front to my left, far away.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
What a difference a sun makes
2 January 2010 Galveston- goshawks
What a difference a sun makes! We in Kemah have experienced since our arrival, 6 and one half days of pleasant weather, out of 25 days. So, with bright sun and our first trip to Galveston, just a drive through, I observed 2 different Northern goshawks, in flight, of course,
The first NG (observation time about 3 minutes) was at 9th Street and Harborside Dr. at 12:45 P.M. The hawk was soaring and flapping at about 400 feet elevation. This hawk was not long-winged nor short, stubby winged, therefor, I could not sex the bird.This hawk also had a very slightly rounded tail-tip, with no white terminal band. This accipiter may have been flying with another Goshawk, but by the time I pulled over to glass the hawk, the other possible NG had gone to ground or trees.
Please notice: I am not satisfied with just sexing and ageing Goshawks. The main reason that I track and chase Goshawks is to gather information on that (any) Goshawk, so as to get a more accurate concept of how many goshawks are in any particular area. Hint- were you to find 1 Goshawk - there are usually 2.
Then at 1:45 P.M. on FM3005 and 7 Mile Rd. (near the birding hot spots of Stewart Rd.), a male Goshawk was circling and gliding at about 400 feet elevation. This hawk was definitely a short, stubby -winged Goshawk.
What a difference a sun makes! We in Kemah have experienced since our arrival, 6 and one half days of pleasant weather, out of 25 days. So, with bright sun and our first trip to Galveston, just a drive through, I observed 2 different Northern goshawks, in flight, of course,
The first NG (observation time about 3 minutes) was at 9th Street and Harborside Dr. at 12:45 P.M. The hawk was soaring and flapping at about 400 feet elevation. This hawk was not long-winged nor short, stubby winged, therefor, I could not sex the bird.This hawk also had a very slightly rounded tail-tip, with no white terminal band. This accipiter may have been flying with another Goshawk, but by the time I pulled over to glass the hawk, the other possible NG had gone to ground or trees.
Please notice: I am not satisfied with just sexing and ageing Goshawks. The main reason that I track and chase Goshawks is to gather information on that (any) Goshawk, so as to get a more accurate concept of how many goshawks are in any particular area. Hint- were you to find 1 Goshawk - there are usually 2.
Then at 1:45 P.M. on FM3005 and 7 Mile Rd. (near the birding hot spots of Stewart Rd.), a male Goshawk was circling and gliding at about 400 feet elevation. This hawk was definitely a short, stubby -winged Goshawk.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)