Hi Aquila,Darrell,Michael et al,
Goshawks have a similar reputation here in Ireland as in Cornwall,it seems!A great problem is that the species,while being quite distinctive when seen well,can be hard to seperate from female Sparrowhawk at a distance,and obviously some claims will refer to misidentified Sparrowhawks.Others will refer to falconer's escapes(these may be of interest as they could lead to breeding records afterwards).A friend of mine checked out a report in south Cork:he says that it was a Gos,but way too tame to refer to a wild bird(think that there may be a falconry centre within a couple of miles too!)
I have only seen 1 definite bird here myself(a juv.male in Sep.01 at the Gearagh,which was elusive but often seen perched on stumps in the water(the site is a valley flooded in the 50's(?)when a dam was built down river).Prob.attracted by the abundant ducks etc there),but have had poor views of 2 possible birds(one in particular was almost certainly one,but the light was against us that day).
They are probably breeding in most counties of Ireland if reports are to be believed,albeit at very low density.
Harry H
