Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Northern Goshawk

We, with our friends Gary and Rosie, were taking a short winter "birding break" to Northern Minnesota famous Sax Zim bog. This is the same place that was featured in the recent movie, The Big Year. It was colder than heck. Maybe -30 degress wind chill. Still we were hopeful. Sax-Zim Bog is the place, some say, to bird in Minnesota. Indeed, species difficult to find elsewhere are often much easier in "the bog." Upland Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great Gray Owl, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Connecticut Warbler and LeConte's Sparrow all nest here. In winter one can look for Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Norhtern Goshawk, Northern Shrike, Snow Bunting, Pine and Evening Grossbeaks, pine siskins, crossbills and redpolls. Here's a few Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, I took on a previous trip to the area.



















The birding highlight of the trip though was a rare Northern Goshawk spotted by sharp-eyed Rosie. This large reclusive woodland raptor is found throughout the northern part of the northern hemissphere. Adults defend their territories fiercely from intruders, including passing humans. It is presumed that their unusually aggressive nest defense is an adaptation to tree-climbing bears species, such as the
black bear in North America. Other raptors are also attacked at nest sites, and often cede territory to, or are themselves killed by the aggressive Goshawk. The Northern Goshawk is considered a secretive raptor, and is rarely observed even in areas where nesting sites are common.
The following Goshawk pictures are courtesy of fellow birder Andy Nyhus of Winona Mn.

http://www.andrewnyhusphotography.com/

17 comments:

  1. Great birding! Especially fun when you see a rare one like this.

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  2. I will have to leaqrn more about this area, it sounds really unique.

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  3. Beautiful bird even if it does have an attitude.
    Can't believe you were out in temps that cold. That is dedication.

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  4. Brrr! But great bird pictures. I've never seen a goshawk, I don't think they range over to here. I'll check...

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  5. such a beauty! but i love your grosbeaks, too!

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  6. All the birds you mentioned were in New Hampshire when I was a child.I wish you would go back to that bog this spring and summer and photograph any wild orchids you find there.

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  7. I think you're much hardier than I am -- I can't see myself going out in those temperatures to watch birds. But I'm glad you got a chance to see this elusive raptor in the wild.

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  8. Looks like you had a very enjoyable time. Great pictures.

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  9. That Evening Grosbeak shot is fabulous!

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  10. wish you could've just heard me scrolling through your photos:
    "gasp! nice....! oh.my!...."

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  11. Good for you..I have heard good things about Sax Zim Bog..I used to follow a birder out of Duluth and his blog...and he went there often. That is one beautiful Hawk:)

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  12. Beautiful shots! How's my second favorite dog in the whole world????

    Jane

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  13. We don't have too many colorful birds here during the winter months in Southwest Saskatchewan so seeing a special bird is always an extra treat. But my faithful sparrows and nuthatches will have to do until the more colorful birds of summer return. Though I have been having a little redpoll finch visiting me the last couple of weeks. It has been warmer than usual here this year so perhaps he decided to take his chances and come home early. ;)

    xo Catherine

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  14. It's beautiful. So glad Rosie spotted it!

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  15. Wow! I have yet to see a Northern goshawk! What a sight! Love the snowy owl pic on your other blog that is the doorway to this blog! I hope you had fun with out getting frostbite!

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  16. Goshawk! Well worth the frigid trip.

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