Goshawk wingshape

[Heathy]

I was luckily enough to be at my local Patch this week (Grove Ferry in Kent) when a Goshawk was seen flying over the ramp by 3 birders including me. I have no experience of these birds at all and as the bird flew over i noticed that it was something different from the normal Marsh Harriers and C Buzzards. The bird was not quite Buzzard sized and one birder (Andrew Barker - Lothian/Borders raptor study group who has a vast experience of these birds was in no hesitation that it was a Goshawk. The one question i had on the bird was that i expected to see the large rounded Winged look but as the bird passed over the wings were quite pointed but the secondaries did stand out alot. Andrew said this was a feature sometimes as the bird was gliding and not soaring. Has anyone any experience of these birds and if so have you seen this features in the wing shape?

Marc Heath

[Andrew Rowlands]

Yes Marc, Goshawk has a very variable wingshape. The wingtips can look quite pointed; somewhat reminiscent of Raven with it's projecting head, especially at a distance.

Cheers,

Andy.