E- bird rarities

An interesting essay by Gary Bletsch, a Skagit County, WA., advanced birder and world traveler. At watweeters—21 June 2020, e- bird, rarities, and other matters.

I was at the bottom of the steep roadway, when a Cooper’s Hawk was about 30 degrees off my zenith at about 100 feet altitude. The hawk was “large” and had “long” wings. The hawk was going up the hill. The wing beats were somewhat loose and sloppy. The wings were not sharply outlined. The primaries were not “clean- cut.” The hawk was lanky. The tail was long and thin. The chest and belly were thin. The hawk was female.

What I am hinting is that if you truly understood the shape and movement of the Cooper’s, the moment you observe an accipiter that is not a Cooper’s, you should say, “ That’s not a Cooper’s.” In other words, you do not have to understand the Goshawk, just know the Cooper’s Hawk. Nearly every action we take is a process of elimination.

The Thought: A good read— How Emotions Are Made— Lisa Feldman Barrett. NB.

Goshawks of Texas

We departed Junction City Kansas with our new trailer to enter east Texas for the first time. It was the day after Thanksgiving 1998. We went to Livingston, Polk County, for a week or two. I took the truck  to Wal Mart for oil change and went for a walk. There were cottages with tall evergreens set back on the area. Away from my position and going farther away was a Goshawk ripping low over the tree tops. This did not surprise me, as I was very aware of NG action, behavior, and habitat.

While driving into Texas I was amazed at the thickets and woods and areas of water— ponds, lagoons, and inlets. I thought: This is goshawk territory, mainly because I could tell— this is small game and reptile country. So that is it for this area of Texas.

In winter in 2002-03 we were in Rockport, Texas. Our first and only time there. In this area, I observed four NG. Two female and two male. The female were mature and immature. The male were mature and immature. I am calling the Red NG as mature. That is female with red on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. A good place for you as a hawk watcher (not a birder or birding) is all areas around Lagoons RV Park, the huge Baptist Church parking lot, and the baseball field nearby. Also, there is a park near the rv park. Also, traverse the high school area. And even get into the bleachers, to get some altitude and elevation. Also hawk the HEB parking lot and the magnificent copse of oak trees. Try the Wal Mart area and near by Connie Hager Park and cemetery. If possible get up on some overpass. I understand it is inconceivable, but all these locations have produced NG within the sky or even lower— less than 100 feet altitude. Just alongside Rockport is Fulton. One NG observed there.
At the thousand year old OAK was a female soaring. Do not leave out Goose Island Park. At Aransas NWR was a male NG ripping through back and forth over the top of a small, low thicket of brush. Also, on a birding cruise, far away, was a female NG which was near the wildlife preserve. Here is my suggestion: Do not hawk watch south of Rockport, only north of Rockport.

I never did observe a perched NG. I never did observe doubles or triples of NG. I did observe a female NG sliding into a copse at Connie Hager Park. Also, at the rv park in winds of  about 20 mph a NG was knocked down near where I was standing. It was in the brush somewhere. I started to crawl under the barb wire to try and find the hawk. But it was private property. Also, why should I investigate. What would I gain?

I did post more info on Rockport sightings and with a birding partner. I am being snippy— go chase.

This is a two-part report. Next will be: Goshawks of Houston and Tyler. Be safe and kind, but maybe not kind, considering what is happening to our nation and its sanity. Truthfully, l’m scared.NB.

A good idea

If you observe a raptor soaring, keep your eye on the bird. There is a chance that another raptor will go up into the sky. If of another species there might be a dust- up. Also, if the attacker came out of the trees, it could indicate that there is a nesting situation.

The thought: Study gun sales. Invest in guns.NB.

NJ Goshawk sightings

I received an informal sighting from west- central NJ of two NG sightings within two consecutive
months. One sighting was of a mature female NG. NB. Be safe out there. NB.