On my post— On Fred; what is the gist of the post? What is the crux of the situation? You can put yourself standing next to me in that small group gathered around Fred. Or imagine yourself away from the group or looking downward into the group. What is Fred saying?
You are as a hawk watcher and have a clear observation of a bird in the sky, meaning the bird is at altitude of 100 or more feet. There is no obstruction of any background “noise” such as terrain features or textures competing for your attention. So the only background is the blue of the sky. The bird is about one-half mile from your position. You contemplate the bird is a Robin, even though the bird is not within a flock. You are using your 8X binos, and also have borrowed your friend’s 10x binos.
The question— how small is the Robin, with the 8X binos. Also, how small is the Robin with the 10X binos.
The answer to the first question. Fred is smarter than you!
The Robin question— the Robin is nine to eleven inches small!
Why am I the only one observing Goshawks in Texas? In chronological order— in Livingston, Rockport, Tyler, Kemah (Houston), Galveston, and Georgetown? Because I am smarter than you. All of the birders in Texas? Yes! But do not misunderstand— more later, on my next post.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Goshawks of Bakersfield
I have stopped in Bakersfield, CA always at the Orange Grove RVPark, for a week or sometimes for just a day or two. I have never birded or hawked the actual city, but have cut through the town, two or three times on route 99, or on the outskirts on route 58. Although I was always aware of any raptors in the sky as I drove through, I believe that Bakersfield will contain many NG— many—meaning 4 NG.
On at least two occasions, I have observed NG in the sky from the RV Park on the east side of Bakersfield, that is Edison Road.
Where are these NG coming from? I say— there is little doubt these NG are coming from and breeding in the Tehachapi Mountains! Is that where the Goshawks of San Diego are coming from?!
The Thought— John Kerry: Dirty Diaper Progenitor— DDP.
On at least two occasions, I have observed NG in the sky from the RV Park on the east side of Bakersfield, that is Edison Road.
Where are these NG coming from? I say— there is little doubt these NG are coming from and breeding in the Tehachapi Mountains! Is that where the Goshawks of San Diego are coming from?!
The Thought— John Kerry: Dirty Diaper Progenitor— DDP.
Friday, May 11, 2018
More on my friend
For 20 years Mike has been traveling to Alaska with his truck, sometimes twice a year. I am of the opinion the Mike has observed a NG passing in front of his truck. Mike must have observed some NG’s soaring, as he was driving. However, my friend is not a birder, is not very interested in birds. But, he is my friend and my one-half mile away neighbor.
Back to you, your neighbor, your friend. With Skagit Audubon at Rasar State Park— in a very light rain, a female NG lifted out off the evergreen trees, to spiral upward. Then a few seconds later, another female NG lifted from the same area; at Iverson Spit— a male NG was displaying in the sky, as I called the hawk; at Port Susan Preserve a female NG was going toward small trees or to ground behind a berm, as I alerted Gary Bletsch to the hawk.
In Tucson, on the pickle ball court, on more than one occasion, I called out a NG in flight, as was observed by the players on the court and the players waiting their turn to get on the court.
On a whale watch boat off of the Paul Allen Estate, Lopez Island, I pointed out a female NG to the tour guide instructor.
The thought— Take pride in your work; or you will hear from your neighbors.
Back to you, your neighbor, your friend. With Skagit Audubon at Rasar State Park— in a very light rain, a female NG lifted out off the evergreen trees, to spiral upward. Then a few seconds later, another female NG lifted from the same area; at Iverson Spit— a male NG was displaying in the sky, as I called the hawk; at Port Susan Preserve a female NG was going toward small trees or to ground behind a berm, as I alerted Gary Bletsch to the hawk.
In Tucson, on the pickle ball court, on more than one occasion, I called out a NG in flight, as was observed by the players on the court and the players waiting their turn to get on the court.
On a whale watch boat off of the Paul Allen Estate, Lopez Island, I pointed out a female NG to the tour guide instructor.
The thought— Take pride in your work; or you will hear from your neighbors.
Saturday, May 5, 2018
You’ve seen goshawks
You’ve seen goshawks; Your friends have seen goshawks; Your neighbors have seen goshawks! And I will say it over and over again.
Do not misunderstand; I am not saying that you have misidentified NG. It is simply that you haven’t made an attempt to identify a raptor in flight. And this will lead into another post; Don’t cop out on me— Don’t cop out on yourself. Nearly every one of my posts will lead into another one or more of my postings. So far, right now, this post relates to my number one rule. That is — I will never say you misidentified a bird, unless I am there with you in the field, and we are both onto the same bird.
I was with my neighbor on his property, which is just behind my house, when he calls “look.” There was a NG circling. And this has happened more than once, with my sharp-eyed neighbor-friend. He should be sharp-eyed as he is a tug boat captain. I went walking to an acquaintance’s house which was a half- mile away. He was outside working on his house. I called, “look” as a NG was circling. It was around Christmas 2016 when I was talking with my neighbor across the street. We were standing on his front yard when he called, “look.” There was a mature female NG circling low over my house. Then fifteen-seconds later, I brought to his attention, another female NG over my house, at the same altitude, and the same flight direction as the first NG. You’ve seen goshawks; Your friends have seen goshawks; Your neighbors have seen goshawks!
Recently, in winter 2017-18, I went down my steep road, and there was my friend in his yard. Mike is a hunter, trapper, machinist, who assembles his own rifles and hunts big game in many areas of British Columbia and Alaska. To our front was a raptor ripping through, low over the near-by roof top. Mike asked— what kind of bird was that! I replied— a northern goshawk, mature. “ Did you see the silver and white coming off that bird.” I quickly departed the area, as I had my camera, and went to chase.
Do not misunderstand; I am not saying that you have misidentified NG. It is simply that you haven’t made an attempt to identify a raptor in flight. And this will lead into another post; Don’t cop out on me— Don’t cop out on yourself. Nearly every one of my posts will lead into another one or more of my postings. So far, right now, this post relates to my number one rule. That is — I will never say you misidentified a bird, unless I am there with you in the field, and we are both onto the same bird.
I was with my neighbor on his property, which is just behind my house, when he calls “look.” There was a NG circling. And this has happened more than once, with my sharp-eyed neighbor-friend. He should be sharp-eyed as he is a tug boat captain. I went walking to an acquaintance’s house which was a half- mile away. He was outside working on his house. I called, “look” as a NG was circling. It was around Christmas 2016 when I was talking with my neighbor across the street. We were standing on his front yard when he called, “look.” There was a mature female NG circling low over my house. Then fifteen-seconds later, I brought to his attention, another female NG over my house, at the same altitude, and the same flight direction as the first NG. You’ve seen goshawks; Your friends have seen goshawks; Your neighbors have seen goshawks!
Recently, in winter 2017-18, I went down my steep road, and there was my friend in his yard. Mike is a hunter, trapper, machinist, who assembles his own rifles and hunts big game in many areas of British Columbia and Alaska. To our front was a raptor ripping through, low over the near-by roof top. Mike asked— what kind of bird was that! I replied— a northern goshawk, mature. “ Did you see the silver and white coming off that bird.” I quickly departed the area, as I had my camera, and went to chase.
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