Cooper's Hawk or Goshawk?
July 20, 2022
Tom Jaeger recently mentioned that he saw a Northern Goshawk in the Celery Farm two years ago -- and sent some photos that help prove it. (Click image to enlarge.)
Tom writes: "[I saw it on] August 4, 2020, on the Southeast side of the lake between the first bench headed North and the Pirie Mayhood Tower Markers 5 And 7.
"It flew down the Allendale Brook under the branches and landed on a tree, I was heading south and caught up with it!"
(I have never seen a goshawk, let alone one a half-mile from my Allendale backyard.)
The most recent eBird sighting I saw for a Northern Goshawk at the CF was by Rob Fanning back in April 2001. It is also listed as the first sighting.
Fred Weber reports seeing one in 2018: "I saw one there 11/21/08 from Pirie tower, a flyby."
But is it a Northern Goshawk, a Cooper's Hawk, a hybrid or ...?
Several experts have weighed in, with arguments made for each of the above.
I am including three of Tom's images here, with a link to the images on Tom's Flickr pages
Thanks, Tom!
I will post some of the expert comments as time allows...