Elk Mountain Goshawk May 11, 2021

[Gord]

I headed up Elk Mountain today. Beautiful day to say the least.

Canada Jays we very friendly at the rock outcropping where we stopped for lunch.

IMG_8360 by Gord G, on Flickr

IMG_8366-1 by Gord G, on Flickr


While getting ready to carry on I noticed a raptor to the south off in the distance. It was soon identified as an adult Northern Goshawk. That was pretty exciting but it got even better when it suddenly banked and came right towards us! It went over our heads and looked to go down in the trees. I believe they have a nest in the area and it's likely this bird was heading back towards there. The light couldn't have been much worse for the photos though.

021_4713 by Gord G, on Flickr

021_4715 by Gord G, on Flickr

021_4717 by Gord G, on Flickr

021_4718 by Gord G, on Flickr

Up on the ridge a little later on we spotted this young Golden Eagle way off in the distance.

021_4719 by Gord G, on Flickr


A eventful trip!

[imperialbirders]

Hi Gord
Great shots, what a lovely day for a hike. Those boots have had lots of 'walkin'.

Mike

[paulos]

Hey Gord, I know it's migration season and this could just be a migrant, but I think we've talked about the possibility of breeding Goshawks somewhere under the south slope of Elk-THurston-Mercer. I saw a couple take off from below the Mt. Thurston Forest Road under Mercer a couple years ago. They seemed to pop up in Ryder Lake occasionally as well.