Mt. Erie mature Goshawk

Nov. 22  Campbell Lake Boat Launch Area 10:30 A.M - Anacortes.
1 Mature NG circling twice then over and behind the ridge line it went. Observation time 15 seconds. Bright sun, no wind, temps at 45. The sun reflected off the silver-gray chest and belly. The hawk was probably male, as the wings seemed too short to be a female NG. It looks like a hot-spot for observing more than one Goshawk. I have been to this area many times hawking. Now I understand that it is best to spend at least one and one-half hours at this location.

Merlin- many sightings

Nov.15  Anacortes city limits-This summer and fall I have many sightings of a merlin, possibly 15 sightings. The falcon sometimes goes to perch. The locations are from 2 areas; downtown Anacortes and the ridge line over- looking Anacortes, meaning Saint Mary's Church, Fidalgo Ave., 41st Ave., and the ball field- dog park on "H" Ave.

Goshawk- red mature female

Nov.13 - 11 A.M.  Campbell Lake Road, base of MT. Erie
1 hour of Hwatching.  This female NG was circling and drifting. The wings were too long to be a male NG. There was a large area of fluffy, white under tail coverts. The chest and belly were red. The hawk was over the height of the mountain. Observation time -1 minute. Bright sun- Zero wind- and warm.

Mile up Goshawk

Nov.8  10:30 a.m.  Campbell Lake Rd. base of Mt. Erie
1 goshawk probably female as the wings were too long to be male. The sighting was first naked eye and identified as goshawk. The hawk was circling in tight circles at about 200 feet elevation. Then the hawk was glassed as it rapidly spiraled upward to well-over 5,000 feet elevation.The hawk then could not be seen naked eye. The hawk had a square-tip tail and buffy chest and belly. Observation time about 2 minutes.

Oak Harbor Goshawk

Nov. 5  1:50 P.M.  Goldie RD. and Whidbey Ave.
1 male goshawk ripping through at about 150 feet elevation. The tail was very long and the wings were "S" shaped with pointed tips in a glide and while flapping. The wind was zero, with no sun, and temp at 45 degree. The sighting was naked eye.

goshawk- RED

Nov.5- 11 to 11:45 a.m.  Campbell Lake Road and base of MT. Erie- Anacortes
1  NG probably female since the wings were too long to be male. The hawk was circling over and over again and drifting. The chest and belly were of red vermiculation. The under tail coverts covered a large area and were white. For whatever reason I did not observe the underwing of the hawk. Also in the area were 3 B. Eagles, 1 R. T. Hawk, 2 Ravens.

D'Arcy Road Male NG

Oct. 29 - 11-1p.m.- D'Arcy Road -Bay View Ridge
1 male NG soaring and circling over and over again. I set a hawkwatch on this road for 2 hours in bright sun, no wind. The hawk was far away and could not be resolved naked eye. On Nov.26, 2012 while driving I observed a NG in flight from this road. This Bay View Ridge Line area is a hot spot for NG.

Ridgeline goshawk

Oct. 30 - 9 a.m.  Near Saint Mary's Church
1 NG, probably female, because the wings were too long for male NG. 3 pigeons were in flight, somewhat near by the NG, suggesting that the NG was much larger than a pigeon,suggesting female NG. The hawk in a strong glide had its wrists cocked well forward, with the head "hidden" in the valley of the wrists. The NG was coming off my ridge line and heading for down town Anacortes. Winds were steady at 10 miles per hour and cool temps at 39 degrees.

goshawk hot spot- Bay View Ridge- Skagit Co.

I will now go to this hot spot more often, as over many years I have observed the goshawk- at least 1 male and at least 2 different (doubles) females, always in flight at these locations. Route 20 - one sighting, very near airport property, Skagit Regional Airport; 3 sightings-near the airport; 2 sightings on Josh Wilson Road; 2 sightings from Pidilla Bay Preserve; and 2 sightings from D'Arcy Road. Suggestion; there are other hawkwatch sites you can develop- just back away from the trees, even if one mile away. This is hawkwatching, not birding. You will not observe Cooper's soaring but might have a slim chance to observe Sharpie soaring. Notice; Cooper's are living on the ridge. The goshawks will drop down from higher elevation during fall, winter, and spring.
Where are these goshawks coming from? Probably from Blanchard Mountain. Yet, some Anacortes goshawks may  come to this area, the result might be new hook-ups- meaning a spreading of the gene pool.

On Gary Bletsch, Dennis Paulson, Charles Wright

Gary Bletsch, Dennis Paulson, and Charles Wright are topnotch birders from the state of Washington, but they are not hawkwatchers, therefor they do not understand the Northern goshawk. They know ONLY how to identify the goshawk in the hand or at very close range. Therefor their publications , thoughts, and teaching are flawed.

Two goshawks

Oct 1, 2013 2:45 PM Anacortes, Wa. near Mt. Erie Elementary School

2 Goshawks (individual sightings) The first sighting was of a male goshawk.  The hawk was fresh, in hunting mode, ripping through the sky and dropping near tree tops and flying away, observed about 30 seconds.  Within 2 minutes  a female Northern Goshawk lifted to be with a soaring turkey vulture.  Observation time was about 2 minutes.  I went to this grassy walkway up against the forest expecting to observe goshawks and in this precise area of the sky.

Anacortes Male NG

Sept. 24 Saint Mary's Church Anacortes  4:15 P.M
1 male NG circling over and over again at about 200 feet elevation. Observation time 3 minutes. This hawk was not in migration. The body wing combo was stocky , not lanky. the wing beats were very rapid , very flexible, and very deep.

Goshawks are back

Sept 1- 10:45 a.m.  Near Saint Mary's Church- Anacortes, WA
1 NG circling over and over again at about 200 feet elevation. this hawk was probably female since the wings were too long for a male. The sighting was naked eye.
 Actually this is a resident goshawk as they have now finished their nesting and branching functions.
Yet i have never observed a NG nest and have never observed any limbers in this area. having only observed limbers in suburbs of Williamsport , PA.

Nesting Bank Swallows and nesting Kingfisher

5 June and 4 June- Near downtown Anacortes- Cap Sante Lookout cliff-side.
I observed Bank Swallows and Kingfisher entering nesting holes on the cliff-side. A better area to observe 5 species of swallows is the near-by water treatment pond.

Jerry Liguori- expert hawker

I reported to www.jerryliguori.blogspot.com of my sighting of a black, or black-type Harrier at San Diego, and a fully mature female Cooper's Hawk with an all black head. And tips on accipiter identification.

One Goshawk- Mt. Erie School

7 May  9:15 a.m. Mt. School
1 NG probably male, since the wings were not long. The tail was very long. The hawk was at about 150 feet elevation, and observed broadside for about 1,000 yards. The breeze was cold and damp, with a heavy marine layer. The hawk was probably coming from downtown Anacortes.

spring Goshawk

5 May  9:20 a.m. and 12:20 P.M. Saint Mary's Church
1 NG, probably male. The wings were not long, nor stubby. Observation time about 4 minutes, as the hawk was at 200-250 feet elevation. The hawk was heading toward downtown Anacortes.
At 12:20 P.M., 1 male NG coming from Anacortes. The hawk was attacked by 2 large crows. The NG was slightly larger than the crows. This hawk had the same proportions as the morning Goshawk, so it was probably the same hawk.

Deception Pass Goshawk

22 April  11 p.m.  Deception Pass
1 NG in flight at about 600 feet elevation. Bright sun. But could not get a feel as to the sex (specific size). Possibly because of the sun. This hawk was not in migration. It went into the trees.

Male NG

20 April  2:10 P.M.   Saint Mary's Church
1 male NG ripping through at about 150 feet elevation. Naked eye-no sun- wind at 10 M.P.H. and cold.

male NG- 3 sightings

16 April  2 P.M.  St. Mary's Church - Anacortes
1 Mature male NG, bright sun. The hawk was circling, gliding, flapping, and drifting from near my zenith at 100 feet elevation to about 300 feet elevation. Clearly visible was the silver- gray chest and belly. Observation time about 4 minutes.
30 minutes later a male NG was circling in the same area, at about 100 feet elevation to about 300 feet elevation, and drifting far to my right flank. Observation time about 4 minutes. Then 2 minutes later to my front and less than 100 feet elevation, was a male NG circling about 100 yards away. This hawk also took to the sky at about 300 feet elevation. Observation time 3 minutes. All NG had  same tail length and wing length. So all sightings could have been of the same hawk. But the time and the distance separating the second sighting from the third indicates 2 different male NG.

Male NG- Naked Eye

29 March  3 P.M.  MT. ERIE SCHOOL- ANACORTES
1 male NG- at 100 feet elevation,circling- then went to 300 feet elevation. Observation time- 4 minutes. Zero wind- bright sun. Naked eye.

On Sheri Williamson- Birder

Sheri operates a not for profit birding organization in S.E. Arizona. She just could not hesitate to chime in to the S. Arizona listserv at www.birdingonthe.net. Some other birders were complaining of my goshawk sightings in Tucson. Sheri said something such as- It is wrong to belittle Mr. Briefer, and it goes against the rules of the listserve, (a non- profit organization.) But, the listserve is not monitored and it should be. I know because I have experience with monitoring birding reports and hot- lines. I would not have allowed goshawks to be reported as from Tucson.
The problem with Sheri Williamson is that she is too "habitat conscious", as are most biologists and ornithologists, but northern goshawks are not habitat conscious. Also, she is too habit conscious. Meaning-she works in lock step with most ornithologists, biologists , and raptor biologists.
Sheri Williamson cannot stand for controversy. She is probably an ultra- left winger. The best way to deal with controversy is to shut- up the reporter- the favorite tactic of the lefties.
So it's on you, Sheri.

Male goshawk

9 March   3 P.M.  Anacortes
1 male NG circling and flapping at about 200 feet elevation. Bright sun. The hawk was naked eye at about 1 mile away.

goshawk down

7 March  2 P.M.  Mt. Erie School - Anacortes
1 NG ripping through, low over houses. The hawk went to perch. I searched, to try and age or sex the hawk. Overcast and damp, zero wind.

Male NG- Black

4 March  2 P.M.  - Anacortes
1 Male NG- circling and flapping, at about 200 feet elevation. The hawk was possibly 1 mile away, which made it look all black. Observation time about 1 minute. Bright sun- zero wind.

Windy goshawk

22 February-  10:30 A.M.  Near St. Mary's Church- Anacortes
1 male NG, ripping through at close range, at 100 feet elevation. The hawk was being pushed slightly by wind at steady 15 plus M.P.H.

No sun goshawk

20 February  3 P.M.  Mt. Erie School - Anacortes
1 male NG- circling, flapping, gliding, and drifting at 200 feet elevation. There was no sun, and the hawk had a square-tip tail. The hawk was heading toward lower elevation, of downtown Anacortes. I left my position with the hawk still circling.

Sunshine goshawk

16 February - 10:30 A.M.  Downtown Anacortes
1 mature male NG circling and drifting, and bothered by 4 crows. Elevation of hawk 150-200 feet. Winds were steady at 10 plus M.P.H. Temps at 45 degrees. Bright sun, downtown Anacortes.

On Diann MacRea- biologist, birder

Years ago at a Skagit Audubon meeting , Diann was presenting her project of monitoring raptors, specifically Turkey Vultures migrating southward from British Columbia. After the meeting , I handed Diann a notice that I was observing goshawks on North Whidbey Island.
Years later, while I was posting some of my goshawk sightings on the listserv, www.birdingonthe.net under Tweeters, Diann just had to chime in saying- Let me add my two cents, I have been monitoring Turkey Vulture migration for a number of years as they travel southward through the San Juan Islands, and I have never observed a Goshawk.
 So what does that have to do with me and my Goshawks? I say if you do not live near a major or secondary migration route, that you will probably never observe a Cooper's hawk or  goshawk in migration. In my 18 years of chasing and tracking (visually) Northern goshawks, I have only observed 3 goshawks in migration. 1 in New Jersey, and 1 each at Grand Canyon, and north of Grand Canyon. I do not recall ever observing a Cooper's Hawk in migration outside of its major or minor migration route. I say that eastern Puget Sound is not a major nor minor migration route. But, many  Turkey Vultures pass through in migration.

Then later on, I observed Diann's publication, and where she told of goshawk in Bothell, which is about 15 miles from Seattle. This does not surprise me, as I have observed the goshawk soaring over Seattle and south of Tacoma. I know that goshawks are moving into cities and suburbs.

So what is this posting all about? Diann MacRea is saying that she can observe and at the same time identify goshawks, while Nelson Briefer cannot observe and at the same time identify Goshawks.
I will say it again- There is no person or organization that know more of Goshawk migration, habitat, and distribution than what I know. Yet, I know very little of Goshawks. For example, I have never observed a goshawk nest, I have never observed a goshawk take prey, I have never observed a documentary on goshawks. I am just satisfied with being  a hawk watcher. I am not supposed to observe many Northern goshawks, or more to the point, the same goshawks over and over again. This is why I am called - The man who saw too many Goshawks.

Birders are whimps

21 January-  Here is one example: A birder reads of a report, over the internet, that Miss Jones has reported an unusual bird. The birder goes to the area the next day and observes the the bird, the very bird she wanted to observe. So in her report to the listserv, she reports on finding the bird, "Miss Jones' bird" (find).
Firstly, the bird had already been reported a day earlier. Secondly, the bird most recently reported does not have to be the same bird as reported by Miss Jones. So, in order to be correct, or what she thinks is scientific, or good reporting, the birder may be incorrect. More to the point, in order to respect Miss Jones, and not steal her thunder, and to give her credit so as not to step on her toes, the birder had to insert Miss Jones' name.
Birders are so thoughtful and considerate, and are wimps. Many birders are left- wingers, and some are ultra, left-wingers. I will report on some of the ultra, left-wingers!

Skagit Audubon with blinders

From www.birdingonthe.net at Washington Tweeters, from Gary Bletsch, an advanced birder- very active in Skagit Audubon. Gary is also a field -trip leader, and also travels many areas of the world to observe birds.
06 Jan 2013  "Skagit 2012  "missing" birds"
Dear Tweeters, There are a number of species for which we don't have any records for Skagit County. If anyone has any sightings for these 2012 Skagit birds, please let me know.
Redhead; White-Tailed Ptarmigan; Western screech owl; Northern goshawk; Horned Lark; Lapland Longspur; Clay-Colored Sparrow; Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Yours truly, Gary Bletsch.

On 7 January, I emailed Gary to inform him to observe www.goshawkspugetsound.blogspot.com concerning my sightings, and also informed Gary of my report to the WOS of a Clay-Colored Sparrow.
I will have more to report on concerning this issue.

goshawk report for 2012

I had 17 daily sightings - all in city limits of Anacortes except 1 sighting on D'arcy Road, Samish Flats ( male), and at Skagit Regional Airport, doubles (female). Doubles were also observed over Mount Erie School. All goshawks were in flight, and were not in migration. These are resident hawks. One NG did go to perch. I don't know how many NG are hunting in Anacortes, as I could not grasp the situation of making each hawk an individual entity. I must have this information in order to verify a particular NG: age, sex, tail length, tail-tip structure, and thickness of terminal band.
17 daily sightings is not a lot of sightings considering that as a guesstimate, I put in 575 hours of hawk watching, looking deep into the sky.
There are at least 2 NG hunting in Anacortes. Of course I am observing the same NG over and over again.