A few of the many photos I fired off of the various Goshawks we enjoyed, usually at great length, in Tiergarten over the last week. We witnessed a fascinating variety of behaviours and activity, more often than not at extremely close range - almost surreal to a Yorkshire birder well versed in making the most of somewhat more distant views....
Of those behaviours, there were a couple that were particularly enlightening. One involved two Jays mobbing a perched adult female from the relative safety of a Yew - with one of the Jays blasting out an enviably excellent impression of the classic
ka-ka-ka-ka-ka call straight back into the Goshawk's face....
... another, encountered several times, involved the excited head-bobbing of (several different) Goshawks when watching a small dog approach within catching range; I've no doubt they were sizing up the opportunities, unbeknown to the innocent canines and their owners.
We're planning on running YCN trips here at the same time next year to make the most of this wonderful spectacle (and place) - watch this space for details and feel free to message me if you're interested.
