Is this a Goshawk?

[PeterD]

Please see below two images of the bird in question.





At the time of shooting I thought it was another Kestrel but the bars on the tail feathers and the white rump made me look again.

Thank you

[Picidae]

Underwing pattern (heavily barred coverts and remiges), square tail and upper breast pattern, bulky rear end/bend in trailing edge of wing fits juvenile female Sparrowhawk - Sparrowhawk anyway. Juvenile Gos are streaked, adults have finely barred underwing coverts and finely barred breasts with rounded tail corners - also shorter tailed and longer necked.

[PeterD]

Thank you. My reference had either one as a posibility but I was not sure what was classed as a 'narrower tail'. This is still a first for me so I am well pleased.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by PeterD

This is still a first for me so I am well pleased.

Congratulations! (Must say it's a nice change to get such a good and clear raptor photo for IDing!)

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Congratulations! (Must say it's a nice change to get such a good and clear raptor photo for IDing!)

I am a volunteer warden at the Tern Colony on Hayling Island. This Sparrow Hawk was flying high above the beach, not far from the colony where pre-fledge and fledgling Tern are. I have already seen an attempted foray by a Perigrine last week. These are worse as they will attack the chick on the ground.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by PeterD

I am a volunteer warden at the Tern Colony on Hayling Island. This Sparrow Hawk was flying high above the beach, not far from the colony where pre-fledge and fledgling Tern are. I have already seen an attempted foray by a Perigrine last week. These are worse as they will attack the chick on the ground.

I'm afraid it's the natural cycle of prey/predator Peter - Corvids/Herons/Avocets/Gulls, Foxes and Minks will probably each cause more fatalities to Tern Colonies than Peregrines and Sparrowhawks (many attempts that we witness from Peregrines and Sparrowhawks are actually unsuccessful and they won't take what they can't eat!).

I presume the Tern Colony is fenced off to prevent disturbance from dogs/walkers etc and there is a mink control programme in place?

Regarding corvid predation - monitoring a Kittiwake colony a few years ago, (where Peregrines/Sparrowhawk were breeding in the area) - I witnessed only a couple of BoP attacks - Corvids predation on the other hand resulted in an average of 4 chicks a day being knocked off the ledges and over a 5-6 week period that counted for a very high mortality rate for a struggling species like Kittiwake! Why were there so many corvids in the area - simply as a result of tourist litter and takeaway kiosks on the seafront!

[ray55]

Hi Peter

I often walk the coastal trail at hayling and have seen the peregrines you mentioned attacking the tern colony...watched last week as a "gang" of terns chased it off where it went and sat on the pylon near the old rail bridge...for all of 20 seconds before coming back for "round two". I have seen the sparrowhawks too and early last week a pair of buzzards..possibly the same ones I regularly see at Langstone.

Great pictures.

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by Picidae

I'm afraid it's the natural cycle of prey/predator Peter - Corvids/Herons/Avocets/Gulls, Foxes and Minks will probably each cause more fatalities to Tern Colonies than Peregrines and Sparrowhawks (many attempts that we witness from Peregrines and Sparrowhawks are actually unsuccessful and they won't take what they can't eat!).

I presume the Tern Colony is fenced off to prevent disturbance from dogs/walkers etc and there is a mink control programme in place?

Regarding corvid predation - monitoring a Kittiwake colony a few years ago, (where Peregrines/Sparrowhawk were breeding in the area) - I witnessed only a couple of BoP attacks - Corvids predation on the other hand resulted in an average of 4 chicks a day being knocked off the ledges and over a 5-6 week period that counted for a very high mortality rate for a struggling species like Kittiwake! Why were there so many corvids in the area - simply as a result of tourist litter and takeaway kiosks on the seafront!

Thanks for your contribution to this thread. The oysterbed colony was created from the disused and derelict oysterbeds and here is a panorama I took of the site.



The site comprises two islands set in a deep water lagoon. The nearest island is called South island and the other is North island. A weir towards the top right (near North island allows fresh sea water in at high tide whilst retaining the water level at low tide. A public footpath forms a horseshoe around the lagoon and you can get quite close to the breeding Tern and Gulls. A dream for wildlife photographers

Originally Posted by ray55

Hi Peter

I often walk the coastal trail at hayling and have seen the peregrines you mentioned attacking the tern colony...watched last week as a "gang" of terns chased it off where it went and sat on the pylon near the old rail bridge...for all of 20 seconds before coming back for "round two". I have seen the sparrowhawks too and early last week a pair of buzzards..possibly the same ones I regularly see at Langstone.

Great pictures.

Thanks for your viewing and comments. I saw this too and the following shot was taken in a great hurry because of the speed of the 'attack'. Please excuse the poor quality of the image. The Perigrine was really cheesed of by the defensive attack by the Tern. Just look at it's head looking back in disgust

.

I have many more interesting (I think) images on my SmugMug site under New Bird Uploads. I am hoping to put together a pictogram type posting on here but the recent rule changes on not being able to show links is a great disapointment and I shall have to find a work around

[ray55]

Hi again Peter

love that picture!!..I have to agree with you that the coastal walk is a great place for photography...such a wide diversity of wildlife...including the human kind!!!...Think I may have to walk it again today!!!

[PeterD]

Thanks for your reply Ray. I am off mid morning to Dorset for a 5 day break and photo expedition. The campsite I am going to accesses about 300 acres of heath land so should be good.
I shall be back with the Terns next Sunday. By then, I guess most will have left. Meanwhile, here is an image from yesterday.

The parent is watching closely to make sure the chick washes itself properly!