ML434789411

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Behaviors

Flying

Media notes

extreme crop

Observation details

Migrating west, high, at 1255, ~3/4 mile south of hill at closest point. Picked up on this bird in a set glide while scanning backwards from a vulture stream and immediately recognized it as having high potential for gos. In set glide, classic silhouette with broad buteo-like wings, extremely long tail, small head, powerful chest. Throughout the two minutes I watched this bird in the scope it never deviated from the set glide but offered good prolonged looks at the broad-winged, long-tailed structure with thick-based tail (not pinched as in other accipiters). Wings thrust forward often in such a way as to obscure the small head, much like gliding flight profile of Sharp-shinned Hawk. Obviously no real size comparison possible, but structural impression was of a very large bird, RSHA or larger. Very obviously lacking pale primary crescents of RSHA (and showing smaller head, even longer tail, shorter-handed wings, etc - been fooled several times by migrating RSHA before but this was certainly an accipiter). Fired a few photo bursts before switching to scope viewing for the remaining 2 minutes of observation, photos are very distant but show structural details. Sent LCD screenshots to Jen Brumfield who concurred with goshawk as a solid ID. Goshawk is extremely rarely detected on spring passage in Ohio - the only other photodocumented record was 9 years and 1 day before this.

Technical information

Model

DC-G9

ISO

640

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

1280 pixels x 803 pixels

Original file size

62.72 KB