Mayday farm- Goshawk (1 Viewer)

[Gleb Berloff]

Hello,
I am currently very much wanting to see the goshawks in Thetford forest- can they still be seen at Mayday farm and at Ollie's farm? And does anybody have any tips on seeing them? I know they are supposed to be displaying in March...
Just for the record, I am uninterested in anything apart from photographing one in flight, and even an approximate, very vague idea is enough.

 

[PYRTLE]

Both Mayday Farm and Ollie's Farm have been defunct for quite a while due to major road changes, car park and access gone, and growth of conifers meaning the panoramic skyline is no longer. You could walk quite a distance to those sites if you still wish.
P

 

[Gleb Berloff]

Oh I see- will I be able to see them there? Or is there another site nearby for them? It is just I was recommended this site by the RSPB...

 

[PYRTLE]

You'll need amazing luck, last time I was near there 2 years ago we saw a couple of displaying birds very distantly. It is a vast area to cover.

 

[johnraven]

I saw one fly over the A11 randomly a few weeks ago. They are very much present. I think on a still, warmish, sunny March day, wandering around the forest tracks in that area, you have a good chance of connecting with a goshawk. Good luck!

Edit: I should add that I doubt you will get a good picture though. Likely to be very distant!

 

[Gleb Berloff]

I saw one fly over the A11 randomly a few weeks ago. They are very much present. I think on a still, warmish, sunny March day, wandering around the forest tracks in that area, you have a good chance of connecting with a goshawk. Good luck!

Edit: I should add that I doubt you will get a good picture though. Likely to be very distant!

Oh ok, thank you! I'll be sure to give that area a try- a clearing is the best option. And I am a specialist in very distant photographs. Thank you.

 

[wolfbirder]

Why not try Forest of Dean at New Fancy View (Gloucestershire).
Views from this elevated mound are excellent over the entire forest, but again birds can often be very distant. But occasionally you get a closer one.

Obviously a vaguely warm day with some sun is best to see them, but I often see up to 10 birds over a day at this location early March.

 

[Nick-on]

Why not try Forest of Dean at New Fancy View (Gloucestershire).
Views from this elevated mound are excellent over the entire forest, but again birds can often be very distant. But occasionally you get a closer one.

Obviously a vaguely warm day with some sun is best to see them, but I often see up to 10 birds over a day at this location early March.

I assume Mayday Farm was asked about as is a lot closer to Cambridge (OP's location). About 3 hours or so to FOD New Fancy View.

FWIW I used to see them regularly at Mayday years ago, not seen any there recently but my visits are few and far between nowadays.

Nick

 

[wolfbirder]

Yeah true, I hadn't realised just how far Forest of Dean was from Cambridge.

 

[Gleb Berloff]

Hello everyone,
Thank you very much, but recently I have been having trouble locating those sites. Could anybody please tell me on how to get there? All I have is very vague descriptions that led me on a wild goose chase with no sightings...

 

[wolfbirder]

Hello everyone,
Thank you very much, but recently I have been having trouble locating those sites. Could anybody please tell me on how to get there? All I have is very vague descriptions that led me on a wild goose chase with no sightings...

https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=4260

 

[Gleb Berloff]

Wow... I was out by a mile on this one, if not more..

 

[wolfbirder]

Good luck mate.