2 March 2015

Goshawk and more Glaucous Gulls


A Goshawk at Oshamanbe earlier today.....................




A very shy species which I rarely get to photograph, this one was from the car window and even though it was quite far away (these are fairly heavy crops) it didn't stay around long once it noticed me.



Off it flew......................



Not much else around in Oshamanbe. A single Stellers Sea Eagle heading north, a flock of Waxwings in Mori and lots of Glaucous Gulls everywhere.



The weather was very  changeable: blizzards, rain, sleet, sunshine and very windy. The gulls just sat around on walls most of the time................





21 comments:

  1. Great shots as usual! I've only seen it perching once. Not an easy bird to get a nice photo.

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    1. Thanks Ayuwat, I see them perched a lot but they always fly away before I can raise the camera to my eye...............

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  2. Wow!! love the Goshawk, don't know about noticing you Stu, more like "if looks could kill" I thought I had one in my garden a few years back but alas ( after a chat with the local RSPB expert) it turned out it was probably a very large female Sparrowhawk.

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    1. Well I guess when all is said and done it is basically just a big Sparrowhawk.........................

      Big female Sparrowhawks and small male Gishawks are pretty similar but when you get a decent view of a 'real' Goshawk it just seems.................bigger. The thickness of the legs/talons is a giveaway (if you can see them).

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    2. Well this one Zapped a Collared dove in the garden which I thought was a bit large as a prey species for a sparrowhawk however the RSPB chap reconed that they were probably the biggest they would take.

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    3. Goshawk means 'Goose' Hawk, can't really see them taking a goose though..............a duck maybe.

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  3. How marvellous to see and take these shots of the Goshawk. Brilliant.

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  4. Yowser! Never seen a Gos for years - let alone photograph one!

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    1. I've never seen one in the UK ever....................

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  5. Fine Goshawk portrait.... a pity they are so wary.

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    1. Why are they so wary I wonder? AFAIK they aren't hunted in Japan................

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  6. Hi Stuart
    Brilliant set of pics on the Goshawk!
    I was myself extremely lucky to "catch" one recently hunting down a pheasant!
    An awesome bird!
    Keep well!

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    1. Thanks Noushka, I'll check yours out.............

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    2. Well I just had a look. Wow! Great pictures.

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  7. The Goshawk is awesome. What a great bird. I'm waiting for a pic like this one: http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/03/photographer-captures-incredible-photo-of-a-weasel-riding-a-woodpecker-this-was-a-struggle-for-life/

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    1. Hi Dan, yes I saw that on various sites..........................now if only it had been in focus!

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  8. Is there anything more impressive than a male Goshawk? Obviously that's a rhetorical question but it sure is a handsome and fearsome looking bird.

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    1. It is indeed a great looking bird and this is the first even halfway OK set of shots I've managed of the species, male or female.

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