goshawk display flight (1 Viewer)

[johnmichael]

hi there, i was just wondering if anyone has seen goshawks displaying this early in the year,especially at the likes of kielder forest,et env.I spent a few hours on sunday29th up there.conditions seemed good,a bit of breeze,clear skies and so on.the frost wasn't that sharp that morning.got great views of perched buzzards,perhaps they were trying to tell me something

 

[salty]

never saw any at kielder when i was up on sunday!

usually march time for displaying raptors......

 

[johnmichael]

never saw any at kielder when i was up on sunday!

usually march time for displaying raptors......

sorry i missed you,unless you were the black honda type r roaring by?

 

[salty]

sorry i missed you,unless you were the black honda type r roaring by?

that was me

had some fun going back home on those icy roads :eek!:

 

[Woodchatshrike]

There's a bit too much fog at the moment up here but I am going to have a good look in Fife and Perthshire this month!

 

[wolfbirder]

i was at forest of dean on saturday and also saw no gosshawks or even any buzzards altho it seemed ideal conditions. maybe too cold?
I have read Feb/March is prime time so I just do not know whatto make ot it. I have been in May and they still displaying. Yet people say this is way too late.
On a sperate Goshawk matter, does anyone (expert) know which of the pair does the spectacular roller coaster stoop display whilst the other tends to saunter a bit? I always presumed it was the male that did the acrobatics to impress the female, but views given to me contradict this.

 

[johnmichael]

i'll bet! i exploited the full potential of my ford focus chassis on those roads,sometimes i had no choice, :eek!: the dog was also happy when we touched down again |:d|

 

[Collster]

Goshawks Displaying

Already had some action with a couple of pairs i know for here in south walesI think if the weather is right then they should be thinking about it now

 

[johnmichael]

great. was there much interaction/rough and tumble going on?

 

[Vipers]

Hi John

Goshawks usually start displaying mid to late February, if the weather is right. Give it another couple of weeks and hopefully there should be little bit of action.

Richie. I thought you swapped your type R for a 4x4.

 

[johnmichael]

thanks for the info' Gary,i am looking forward to connecting with these birds |:d|

 

[Collster]

goshawks

Hi JM, just a lot of steep dives, mostly by the female has to be said. As has been stated wait for a decent day and go look, good luck

 

[graham catley]

had two female Sparrowhawks in full display flight Jan 30th this year--I think this is the earliest I have ever seen them displaying

 

[nirofo]

I used to watch them regularly from the middle of January if the conditions were right, they need thermals to do their high soaring thing, a sunny day over a valley or woodland is sometimes enough to give them the lift they need. The climb is often so high the bird disappears from view, the following power dive is something to be seen!

nirofo.

 

[wolfbirder]

Nirofo, in your experience which gender undertakes this dive, or is it both?

 

[nirofo]

Hi Wolfbirder

Usually it's the male that initiates the high soaring, with the female coming up to meet him. This is generally followed by a succession of power dives, usually by the male again, but very often accompanied by the female. Once the nest is established the high soaring and power dives are nearly always by the male, until that is the young are old enough to be left in the nest. Very often at this stage when the female leaves the nest, the male will be accompanied by her to give a couple of display dives over the nesting territory, the pair will then split up to go their separate hunting ways. The male, as in Sparrowhawk, usually leaves prey items at a convenient plucking place for the female to collect and pluck. She usually feeds the young herself, but occasionally the male will half heartedly feed them while the female is away from the nest, more often than not he will be driven off by the female when she returns.

nirofo.

nirofo.

 

[wolfbirder]

Thats what I presumed Nirofo when i saw a pair displaying in may last year at forest of dean from the elevated new fancy viewpoint. One of the pair lumbered slowly past the point at virtually eye level to the elevated position we were at, offering great views, whilst the other climbed to great height then power dived spectacularly.

I presumed the the bird flying slowly near us was the female, and the performing bird the male. The bird heigher up looked to be a smaller male whilst the bird nearby looked larger, but appreciating this can be deceptive.

However, my thoughts were thrown into confusion when the RSPB wardens there told me that the female performs & dives as frequently as the male.

I know it doesnt really matter but identifying gender and understanding what they are doing is important to me. Your summary - for which i thank you for - is the best i have seen to date....believe me i have asked this on a few threads now. And the time of year, and my perceived size difference, would confirm my original thoughts that the male was diving and the female passing slowly at lower height, on this occasion.

nirofo.

nirofo.[/QUOTE]

 

[Collster]

Thats what I presumed Nirofo when i saw a pair displaying in may last year at forest of dean from the elevated new fancy viewpoint. One of the pair lumbered slowly past the point at virtually eye level to the elevated position we were at, offering great views, whilst the other climbed to great height then power dived spectacularly.

I presumed the the bird flying slowly near us was the female, and the performing bird the male. The bird heigher up looked to be a smaller male whilst the bird nearby looked larger, but appreciating this can be deceptive.

However, my thoughts were thrown into confusion when the RSPB wardens there told me that the female performs & dives as frequently as the male.

I know it doesnt really matter but identifying gender and understanding what they are doing is important to me. Your summary - for which i thank you for - is the best i have seen to date....believe me i have asked this on a few threads now. And the time of year, and my perceived size difference, would confirm my original thoughts that the male was diving and the female passing slowly at lower height, on this occasion.

nirofo.

nirofo.

[/QU Have to saythat female as well as male does this

 

[wolfbirder]

I do appreciate that, but would the male be slowly passing in low straight lumbering fashion whilst the female power dived from high above?

And I appreciate they both power dive and display simultaneously, and also the male power dives in front of the female, but would the female perform like this in front of a apparently unappreciating male down below? Hope that makes sense?

 

[Collster]

Goshawk

I do appreciate that, but would the male be slowly passing in low straight lumbering fashion whilst the female power dived from high above?

And I appreciate they both power dive and display simultaneously, and also the male power dives in front of the female, but would the female perform like this in front of a apparently unappreciating male down below? Hope that makes sense?

Yes it does make sense. Im lucky enough to be able to look out of my window and see Goshawk most days, we also have a few occupying most local woods. Had a female going up and then deep diving for about ten minutes the other day over site yet didn't see a male in the air at all. I just feel privileged to be able to watch these birds, whichever ones doing what.