This sighting should have been posted on my —- goshawks Whidbey Island.
I was traveling to Oak Harbor from Anacortes. Very near the Oak Harbor city limits, near Hoffman Road, a female NG cut in front of my car. It was tan or khaki colored. One year later, possibly the same exact location, a mature female NG cut in front of my car. NB.
The thought: I would not recommend this book: Educated.
Monday, December 16, 2019
About your question
Cooper’s hawks (COHA) do not have an affinity for the sky, related to my previous post. I think now, that it is best for you to determine where the air becomes the sky. But that is only part of the equation. For example, you might say that the sky starts at one- hundred fifty feet of altitude. So, here is the question you should be asking— if COHA do not have an affinity for the sky— but only during migration; Then how the hell does a COHA wind - up on top of a 200 foot evergreen tree, which is located in the middle of a field? Or on top of a 200 foot building? Here is one more example: I am hiking at Deception Pass State Park. The first part to the Goose Rock is steep, then you level off, then you go steep again, all the time through the trees, in order to reach the top, which is a saddle with a great view. The saddle is mostly grassy and mossy, with just a small tree or two. However, when you reach the top, there is a perched COHA! Or you are standing there taking in the sights of the flat pasture land and evergreen trees, when a raptor come out of nowhere toward you and low over head. No time for binoculars.
Actually, the hawk came from below your position. It did not come out of the sky. You spin around and determine that the hawk is a COHA. Or it went to perch. Or it went down the other side of the mountain.
Folk’s, the Goose Rock is 480 feet high. The same situation could present if you were on a mountain side 2,000 feet high. If so, how the heck did that COHA arrive there? And I think “ arrive” is the proper word.
Please take what I write with a grain of salt. What I am saying is the truth as I know it.
When an object protrudes into the sky; A mountain, a tree or a building, a COHA will treat the structure as a crutch or as a guide-on, at other times as a shield or a “screen.” The hawk will head straight for the screen, at high speed, then will dart around the screen to try and capture prey in the other side. This is because the hawk is sneaky, very sneaky. They will sneak right up the side of a house, sneak along the roof, and then drop down on the other side. Just as when the hawk is sneaking up the mountain side then sneaking down the other side.
Let us say that a COHA is 300 yards from a 200 foot tall tree in a clearing or a field. If the hawk wishes to get to the top of the tree will the hawk circle or soar upward to about 200 feet altitude, then level off and head for the tree top? NO! The same can be said for a 2,000 foot mountain. If the mountain side is barren the hawk can follow the contour of the mountain side, possibly from 120 feet away from the terrain, starting near the base and flapping upward to the top. Or more likely the hawk will start near the bottom of the mountain side and sneak the way up, or sneak up the mountain side, through the trees, which is the sneakiest way. So, the takeaway is that the hawk was uncomfortable with approaching the object from the sky, which is penetrating into the sky. Therefore, the hawk did not take to the sky, to arrive at the tall object.
So, what does all this mean? It really does not mean anything. This is the way the species acts or behaves. I can say a bird or two is not a species.
So, when you observe a raptor in sky and it is not migration time and the hawk is an accipiter: Can you think; That accipiter in the sky is not a COHA, because this guy on the internet says so. So it must be a goshawk or maybe a Sharp- shinned hawk. Absolutely not! You must take into account the object at hand. You must understand and use the proper words to describe what you observe, in order to present the proper words to the proper people.
A field guide with a range map. A range map cannot think. A range map cannot speak. A habitat cannot talk. A habitat cannot think. It’s up to you to describe the hawk in the sky.NB.
The thought : FBI man Christopher Wray will be fired. Should have been months ago. NB.
Actually, the hawk came from below your position. It did not come out of the sky. You spin around and determine that the hawk is a COHA. Or it went to perch. Or it went down the other side of the mountain.
Folk’s, the Goose Rock is 480 feet high. The same situation could present if you were on a mountain side 2,000 feet high. If so, how the heck did that COHA arrive there? And I think “ arrive” is the proper word.
Please take what I write with a grain of salt. What I am saying is the truth as I know it.
When an object protrudes into the sky; A mountain, a tree or a building, a COHA will treat the structure as a crutch or as a guide-on, at other times as a shield or a “screen.” The hawk will head straight for the screen, at high speed, then will dart around the screen to try and capture prey in the other side. This is because the hawk is sneaky, very sneaky. They will sneak right up the side of a house, sneak along the roof, and then drop down on the other side. Just as when the hawk is sneaking up the mountain side then sneaking down the other side.
Let us say that a COHA is 300 yards from a 200 foot tall tree in a clearing or a field. If the hawk wishes to get to the top of the tree will the hawk circle or soar upward to about 200 feet altitude, then level off and head for the tree top? NO! The same can be said for a 2,000 foot mountain. If the mountain side is barren the hawk can follow the contour of the mountain side, possibly from 120 feet away from the terrain, starting near the base and flapping upward to the top. Or more likely the hawk will start near the bottom of the mountain side and sneak the way up, or sneak up the mountain side, through the trees, which is the sneakiest way. So, the takeaway is that the hawk was uncomfortable with approaching the object from the sky, which is penetrating into the sky. Therefore, the hawk did not take to the sky, to arrive at the tall object.
So, what does all this mean? It really does not mean anything. This is the way the species acts or behaves. I can say a bird or two is not a species.
So, when you observe a raptor in sky and it is not migration time and the hawk is an accipiter: Can you think; That accipiter in the sky is not a COHA, because this guy on the internet says so. So it must be a goshawk or maybe a Sharp- shinned hawk. Absolutely not! You must take into account the object at hand. You must understand and use the proper words to describe what you observe, in order to present the proper words to the proper people.
A field guide with a range map. A range map cannot think. A range map cannot speak. A habitat cannot talk. A habitat cannot think. It’s up to you to describe the hawk in the sky.NB.
The thought : FBI man Christopher Wray will be fired. Should have been months ago. NB.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Tip- Cooper’s hawk
This is a good tip. Catch a Cooper’s hawk on a snag or perched in the open. Best to be in silhouette. If the head of the hawk is snapping about, left and right, or up and down, then it is probably a Cooper’s hawk. This hawk is probably not a goshawk. Sometimes when a goshawk is being bothered by sparrows or swallows, the hawk will be oblivious of being attacked.
This tip can be used naked-eye at a distance of up to one- hundred yards. The reason for head snapping is that a Cooper’s hawk is a very high strung hawk, very nervous. NB.
This tip can be used naked-eye at a distance of up to one- hundred yards. The reason for head snapping is that a Cooper’s hawk is a very high strung hawk, very nervous. NB.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
The tussle
Have you ever observed a Cooper’s hawk ( COHA) tussle with an eagle in the sky? SKY— my definition — one- hundred twenty feet of altitude or more. Under that altitude, I could call the air. Bet you have not. If you did it was in migration time.
How about a COHA tussle with a raven or an osprey or a Red-tailed hawk or a goshawk?
I have observed the NG tussle with Red-tailed hawk, osprey, raven, eagle, and Turkey Vulture. But never with a COHA. All in the sky. You will probably never observe a COHA tussle with other raptors in the sky, because COHA to no go into the sky to tussle.
If you do not live near a major migration route, you will probably never observe a COHA in migration. If you do not live near a major migration route you might never observe a NG in migration. If it is not migration time, that NG in the sky is probably a resident hawk.
If you observe an accipiter in the sky and it is not migration time, then that accipiter is probably not a COHA. Here is my take on the situation. I believe, I have never observed a COHA in the sky during non- migration time. Which leads to my profound statement — COHA do not have an affinity for the sky— only during migration! So, know your migration times, and add a fudge factor of a week or two.
The thought: Now this web site is starting to weave and revolve into some of my other posts and will work its way into many other up- coming posts. And I know what you are thinking.NB.
How about a COHA tussle with a raven or an osprey or a Red-tailed hawk or a goshawk?
I have observed the NG tussle with Red-tailed hawk, osprey, raven, eagle, and Turkey Vulture. But never with a COHA. All in the sky. You will probably never observe a COHA tussle with other raptors in the sky, because COHA to no go into the sky to tussle.
If you do not live near a major migration route, you will probably never observe a COHA in migration. If you do not live near a major migration route you might never observe a NG in migration. If it is not migration time, that NG in the sky is probably a resident hawk.
If you observe an accipiter in the sky and it is not migration time, then that accipiter is probably not a COHA. Here is my take on the situation. I believe, I have never observed a COHA in the sky during non- migration time. Which leads to my profound statement — COHA do not have an affinity for the sky— only during migration! So, know your migration times, and add a fudge factor of a week or two.
The thought: Now this web site is starting to weave and revolve into some of my other posts and will work its way into many other up- coming posts. And I know what you are thinking.NB.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Just leave it
Certain species are confusing to me, so at times
“ I will let that one go.” Often it is just that some coloring is absent.
To me, Dowitchers are a tough call. Here is what I go with. If the tertiary markings are tiger design, then the bird is Short- bill. If the tertiary are slightly colored or nearly similar to the Short-Bill, then the bird is a Long- bill.
I am in the field with you. We are observing Dowitchers. I can identify a few. Then you start calling the birds, explaining the species. I understand what you are saying, but it does not compute. As we depart the area, I am thinking. I can’t call many of those birds. I will have to: Just let that one go.
This is the way it is and this is the way it should be.
You are in the field with me. There is a raptor in the sky. We agree it is an accipiter. I explain why it is a Northern Goshawk and female. You do not argue with me. But what I describe just does not gel. As we walk away from the scene, you are thinking: That hawk was an accipiter, and that is good enough for me. As being a goshawk, I cannot take it that far.
This is the way it is— and this is the way it should be.NB.
“ I will let that one go.” Often it is just that some coloring is absent.
To me, Dowitchers are a tough call. Here is what I go with. If the tertiary markings are tiger design, then the bird is Short- bill. If the tertiary are slightly colored or nearly similar to the Short-Bill, then the bird is a Long- bill.
I am in the field with you. We are observing Dowitchers. I can identify a few. Then you start calling the birds, explaining the species. I understand what you are saying, but it does not compute. As we depart the area, I am thinking. I can’t call many of those birds. I will have to: Just let that one go.
This is the way it is and this is the way it should be.
You are in the field with me. There is a raptor in the sky. We agree it is an accipiter. I explain why it is a Northern Goshawk and female. You do not argue with me. But what I describe just does not gel. As we walk away from the scene, you are thinking: That hawk was an accipiter, and that is good enough for me. As being a goshawk, I cannot take it that far.
This is the way it is— and this is the way it should be.NB.
Have you seen
Dear birders and hawk watchers:
Have you read the book— No One Would Listen. It is also a movie. Have you seen the movie— The Man Who Knew Too Much. It is also a book. Have you heard of the man who saw too many goshawks.
They are all related. They all blend with each other. The man who knew too much relates to know one would listen relates to the man who saw too many goshawks relates to the man who knew too much! NB.
The thought: Possibly the worst place to cross the road is at an intersection. Possibly the worst intersection to cross is one with a traffic light. NB.
Have you read the book— No One Would Listen. It is also a movie. Have you seen the movie— The Man Who Knew Too Much. It is also a book. Have you heard of the man who saw too many goshawks.
They are all related. They all blend with each other. The man who knew too much relates to know one would listen relates to the man who saw too many goshawks relates to the man who knew too much! NB.
The thought: Possibly the worst place to cross the road is at an intersection. Possibly the worst intersection to cross is one with a traffic light. NB.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Hawkers
Dear birders and hawk watchers: And there is a difference. Yes, there is a difference between a hawk watcher and a birder. Yes there is a difference between a Goshawk and a Cooper’s Hawk.
I have developed a Koan. I think it is a beauty.
I can not tell the size of a hawk, but I know the size of the hawk. You are in the field with me, and you point out a raptor in the sky. I might say: I cannot tell the size of the bird, but I know the size of the bird.
The thought: I was in Safeway, but first I pulled my cart next to the men’s room. I was standing at the urinal. The wall in front of me was very dark, maybe black. Then a green light came on. Then a sign flashed “ Sorry Not A Winner. “
What was that all about?NB.
,
I have developed a Koan. I think it is a beauty.
I can not tell the size of a hawk, but I know the size of the hawk. You are in the field with me, and you point out a raptor in the sky. I might say: I cannot tell the size of the bird, but I know the size of the bird.
The thought: I was in Safeway, but first I pulled my cart next to the men’s room. I was standing at the urinal. The wall in front of me was very dark, maybe black. Then a green light came on. Then a sign flashed “ Sorry Not A Winner. “
What was that all about?NB.
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