I was already keen on this bird of prey. Despite its small size, it is a formidable hunter, even fearsome to its prey. common goshawk It is one of the most beautiful birds of prey that we can see in the Iberian Peninsula. Until now I had only seen it in flight, from a distance, and hunting some of its prey. I needed to visit again a hide to get the photos for this report. Want to know more about him?
Well yes, it took me several years and visits to several hides or photographic hides to find this little bird of prey. Personally, it's one of my favorites. And it's sure to be one of yours too, if like me, you're from the generation that grew up with Felix Rodriguez de la FuenteHe was also passionate about birds of prey and dedicated several chapters to falconry birds and the fastest and most fearsome birds of prey on the Peninsula.
In this case, it was on my winter visit to the Andujar Mountains, when I had the opportunity to photograph several birds of prey from a hide. The trip was focused on the search for Iberian lynx, which at that time of year is in its mating season. But thanks to the help of friends from Iberian Lynx LandI was able to spend a few hours in a hide photographing several birds of prey that "entered the picture." I'll tell you more about them later, but I can tell you that my favorite was this one, the northern goshawk.
It is obvious that the unequivocal way to identify the common goshawk is its beautiful plumage, especially the one on its chest. With white tones and interspersed with black stripes, it looks like the twin brother of a falcon. But let's not be mistaken. The goshawk belongs to the large eagle family and is much more closely related to birds like the sparrowhawk than to falcons.
Yes, it is one small bird of prey, but its size gives it abilities that even the largest eagles can envy. Its speed in flight, its agility in changing course at breakneck speeds, its skill in capturing prey in mid-flight... Few eagles can do these things.
Its small size also allows it to settle and hunt in areas where large eagles are at a disadvantage. It usually lives in the forests and it is really good at flying and dodging trees while chasing its prey.
The goshawk usually feels quite comfortable in dense forests, although it's also quite fond of scrubland and bushy areas. Its size allows it to adapt to areas where large eagles wouldn't be found.
It usually hunt in flight, although its eyesight is also quite remarkable and it can dive to the ground to pursue its prey when it spots them from the air. In general, it is much more effective as a hunter than the large eagles (golden, buzzards, etc.) of the family to which it belongs. This is why, for a long time, goshawks have been used as falconry animals with great success.
In short, it's a very beautiful bird of prey, one I've been dying to see up close and photograph. Until now, I'd only been able to observe it from a distance, as it flew at high speed, quickly covering its hunting ground. It was wonderful to encounter the European goshawk in this hide in Andujar, where I also observed other birds of prey... but that's a story for another post...
Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy this summer that begins just as we will enjoy it with Fotogario.
