GOSHAWKS IN FIFE 2018 and 2019
Work progressed fairly well with Goshawks in the county in 2018. A minimum of nine pairs were found. However, they were not exactly the same sites as 2017 and the minimum number of pairs over the two years is 12 (and a maximum of 14). The big forest sites in the west of the county, which have recently matured, are the areas where we are finding most new pairs but not all of them. Andy Pay and Kim Blasco confirmed a pair at a site we have been looking at for years. The central part of Fife has been disappointing. They are probably there but in low density and they are always difficult when they are at low density when they display less.
Of course, we only have a figure for the number of pairs and we know nothing about their productivity. I have discussed this with the Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. He is happy with our extensive work as there are many intensive studies elsewhere in the country. We, unlike many counties, are getting close to having a figure for the number of pairs in Fife. There is, however, a good reason for more intensive work in some areas. Large, mature, lowland forests on flat ground are difficult to watch and finding nests (under licence) would be the way forward. There is also another technique we can use to understand a bit more about how successful our birds are. Traditionally, we look for Goshawks in and around March, when they display. Working on woodland raptors elsewhere in Scotland we have noticed a ‘ second peak’ in August when juveniles are seen almost daily. We should try this. It can be lovely sitting out on a warm August day watching over woodland, perhaps with a friend and a picnic! That apart there is another very good reason for August watches. In our work elsewhere this is the month we see Hobbies, almost daily, another species we are underestimating!
We all have busy lives (well, I am assuming we have, perhaps some of us don’t!!) and our rule elsewhere is ‘we can only do what we can do’. The guys who work on other raptors; Harry, Tommy, Graham, the Little brothers, John Nadin, myself etc can get particularly stretched (although I acknowledge that they are often the very guys who are very good at managing and ‘creating’ time ). We are grateful to EVERYONE who has got us to this position.
We continue in 2019. Some of us just like to see the birds, particularly when displaying, I get that! However, if you have seen them at a couple of ‘the usual sites’, please try somewhere new. No matter what level you will be working at, if you want to discuss any aspect of our work, or Goshawks generally, please contact me in the first place. I am away a lot next year but I have set aside February 2019 as a liaison/ discussion/ decision making month.
Ken Shaw on behalf of Harry Bell, Tom Ross, Graham Sparshott and Malcolm Ware