Goshawked at Mulligans

[Stephanie Haygarth <>]

Dear Nathanael

I too was swooped by lapwings today (as well as by the goshawk!).  Agree pics are difficult.  Attached is one; as you'll see the lapwing is flying 'side-on' (wings and body vertical) but with head still horizontal which is neat.  The sound of these birds going past at great speed is very impressive.

Cheers

Matthew

On 18/12/2014, at 4:00 PM, Nathanael Coyne wrote:

Thanks for capturing the experience with your camera; I tried to photograph a pair of Masked Lapwings swooping me the other day but utterly failed at getting anything remotely worth sharing.

Nathanael Coyne (Boehm)

ACT Wildlife

On 18 December 2014 at 15:26, Stephanie Haygarth <> wrote:

We've known of a goshawk pair at Mulligans for some years and previously have seen the nest, with chicks, without any undue alarm from the parents.  This year (assuming it is the same pair), the female is extremely territorial, swooping me constantly, so that I haven't got anywhere near the nest.  Good on her!  Today's visit was especially adventurous as the pics show - being on the pointy end of a goshawk is 'interesting'.  In the second pic, the small bird is a noisy friarbird which swooped the goshawk as the goshawk swooped me - we three were doing a merry dance, the Mulligans three-step.  I ducked with each pass; on the occasion I didn't, she hit my hat.  Owing to size limitations I've had to reduce the images right down.

Having had these experiences I probably will leave the area alone until fledging is over, so as to remove undue stress on these fantastic birds.

Cheers
Matthew Higgins


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