Is this a goshawk?

[vinnychameleon]

I took this(not so good)photo in a glade in my local wood. I know I have local goshawks but was just wondrin if this was one.

[Garden Carpet]

Hi vinny, welcome to WAB.

[Dan Salter]

If anyone id's from that ill be shocked but stranger things have happened...its one thing being so far away but a blurry sillhouette doesnt help at all...

I hope it is the goshawk you want it to be though

[aeshna5]

I think it would be impossible to be sure from that image as it's not very clear + of course there's no way of evaluating size from it.

Goshawks are big birds, roughly Buzzard size, though there's some overlap with large female Sparrowhawk + male Goshawk. Goshawks are bulky + barrel chested; compared to Sparrowhawk they are proportionally longer winged + shorter tailed than Sparrowhawks.

If Goshawks are present in your area, best time to see them is on fine, calm days late Feb/ March when birds can be seen displaying. Otherwise they tend to be somewhat secretive.

Good luck pinning one down!

[chunkychambers]

Hope it is a Goshawk..... they are great birds!!
If you get a better shot look out for the orange to red eye........
Substantial talons, not spindley as Sparrowhawk
If the bird is soaring......look for very white under tail coverts, and deep bulging secondaries

Good luck.....Paul

[canonman]

Hi Vinny
Welcome to WAB, wish I could help, but like the rest not sure
Mick

[vinnychameleon]

Sorry about the poor quality guys but hopefully i'll be getting a much better camera for christmas

[Oy]

It's definately a bird.... probably

Welcome to WAB Vinny - what camera is Santa bringing?

[Dan Salter]

yes Oy is on the right track...i guess by process of elimination we can say its neither:

A ) Rhino

B ) Stick Insect

C ) Octopuss....

So we are getting closer.

[Mustela]

can't see anything. Where do I view the image?

[Alan]

The yellow eye clinches it for me..

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Alan

The yellow eye clinches it for me..

[Oy]

Originally Posted by Alan

The yellow eye clinches it for me..

*Blink

*Squint

{{Snigger}}

[SteveA]

Probably is, Vinny - too long a tail for Buzzard - and it's pretty broad.

Likely to be an adult, probably the female.

[Nick Robinson]

Originally Posted by SteveA

Probably is, Vinny - too long a tail for Buzzard - and it's pretty broad.

Likely to be an adult, probably the female.

Probably is a female because she looks like she's just off to the shops...

[Mustela]

ok I can see it now. If anyone thinks they can id from that it's wishful thinking.
sometimes it's better to observe and make notes if conditions aren't good enough for photography. Gos is big as a buzzard, deep chested and v white below, esp around the bum!

[matt_xyz]

I've yet to rule out a Bluebottle or a hanglider

[Mustela]

or some dirt on the lens!

I've had specks of dust on my scope's objective lens doing cunning impressions of distant storm petrels during seawatches! Mind you, it is the right shape

[Jon]

We could tell Boddie it is a flying Haggis, he says they have always just gone!
Jon