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Thread: Goshawks in the dales?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Ali's Avatar
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    Goshawks in the dales?

    Was climbing at Twistleton Scar in Chapel-Le-Dale on Sunday and saw a bird of prey that I didn't recognise.

    Basically, similar shape tail and broad wings of a buzzard, slightly smaller, paler underneath, with a much faster flapping flight pattern.

    It repeatedly 'flapped' quickly upwards, glided down, then back up again.

    Looked in the book and the nearest it looks to me is a Goshawk or possibly female hen harrier.

    Anyone know if there are in fact any goshawks in the Dales??

    Cheers, Ali

  2. #2
    Master Stolly's Avatar
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Don't think so. Sparrowhawk maybe?

  3. #3
    Master GeoffB's Avatar
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Hi Ali,

    Not sure about the Dales, but I know we have a small number of Goshawks in the Peak (despite persecution). I've never seen one, so I'm not sure about their flying pattern, but I know that they tend to hunt in and around woodland (as does the much smaller Sparrowhawk). Apparently they have quite short wings which makes them able to fly through dense woodland relatively easily.

    Just found this link - http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...hawk/index.asp - I wonder if you were witnessing the 'sky dance display' described here.
    Last edited by GeoffB; 14-02-2008 at 09:00 AM.

  4. #4
    david
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Peregrine?

  5. #5
    Master Pinno's Avatar
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Sounds very much like a peregrine to me from the description. They have rapid wing movement
    Last edited by Pinno; 15-02-2008 at 11:57 PM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member The Navigator's Avatar
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Quote Originally Posted by Pinno View Post
    Sounds very much like a peregrine to me from the description. They have rapid wing movement
    But completely different shape......

  7. #7
    david
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Quote Originally Posted by The Navigator View Post
    But completely different shape......
    True, and the difference is quite obvious when a peregrine is flying fast but not that dissimilar when the bird is soaring as shown here.

  8. #8
    david
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?


  9. #9

    Re: Goshawks in the dales?

    Ali,

    From your original description it was likely to have been a hen harrier and most unlikely to have been a goshawk.

    Graham
    Last edited by Graham Breeze; 16-02-2008 at 06:25 PM.

  10. #10
    david
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    Re: Goshawks in the dales?


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