[birding] Benton Co. Cal. gull, Goshawk

[Karan and Jim Fairchild]

Greg Gillson (many thanks!) helped us confirm our finding of parts of a juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL we found on our property, SW of Philomath and near Marys Peak.  Found it earlier this week, feathers at first, the next day the wing pair, still attached together by some breast bone, searching further yesterday we found a foot and the skull.  Chances it was at least initially taken by an aerial predator, maybe peregrine or goshawk, both of which we've seen sporatically in past years.  It may have been fed on later by another predator.

It would seem probable now that a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was the predator, as Karan just watched one lazily circling high above our meadow--large accipter-shape, plainly marked, prominent white tail coverts above and below.  Could it be hoping to catch another CAGU leaving the Great Basin, on its way to the coast?  We'll have to keep our eyes sharper than the goshawk if we expect to list CAGU for our place, it seems unfair to count remains.

Jim and Karan Fairchild






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