Population of the Goshawk in SW Northumberland

All the data in Table 1 refers to the study area in south west Northumberland. There is a worrying decline in this raptor over the noughties. Rather ironic comment made for 2001: “Best year to date. Gamekeepers found access difficult in spring. Also perhaps growing acceptance of this raptor: it does kill a lot of pigeons”. Over the last few years it is clear that although birds inevitably recolonise new areas each spring, breeding is not tolerated. The area is a classical sink for the species. For instance the data for 2013 continues the very poor results since 2010 with birds noted at only 7-8 sites from 2010-2013, compared to 10-14 sites from 2006-2009. After a brief revival in 2014 when 4 young fledged in 2 broods, 2015 reached a new nadir with the number of sites reaching the lowest in the study since 1996 of 4 and no broods noted. And 2016 saw a further decline to 2 sites though 3 juveniles were apparently in occupation. 2017 was the worst year to date with just a single adult male seen in the breeding season. A small enclave established in the extreme W of the study area resulted in a small recovery in 2018, which continued into 2019, raising the population level back to that in 2013. The recovery continued into 2020 with 4 broods raised and 2021 with 11 localities occupied but productivity then sharply declined affecting the future rate of occupation.

Table 1: Numbers of Goshawk found from 1996-2023 in SW Northumberland

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2001 are available in Table 2a.

Table 2a: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2001

This year has been singled out for more detailed results as it is the best year in the whole of the study for number of broods, giving an insight into distribution patterns under favourable conditions. The rather ironic comment was made in my notes for 2001: “Best year to date. Gamekeepers found access difficult in spring. Also perhaps growing acceptance of this raptor: it does kill a lot of pigeons”. The outstanding area in 2001 was the upper South Tyne where 5 pairs bred, all of which were successful, raising at least 8 young. The birds bred in an unbroken line up the valley, 2 tetrads apart from 160-260m asl. The valley is fairly narrow at this point so the patches of woodland are linear with little possibility of occupying a branch from the vale. The whole valley is dedicated to shooting with Red Grouse being the target on the grouse moors and pheasant in the valleys. This would suggest that the Goshawk have regarded the linear upland woodland with abundant game on all sides as an ideal habitat. Other areas in the SW moorland areas, Allen and Devil's Water, were also very successful with a total of 4 broods and 5+ young. In lowland areas, the lower South Tyne and Tyne Valley, 4 sites were occupied but there was no great resurgence nor outstanding success with only one pair confirmed, raising 2 young. Derwent was less well covered so no conclusions are drawn. Nest spacing was 3.6km in the upper South Tyne (between 5 sites, max 5.0km, min 2.0km) and overall 4.5km (between 12 sites, max 7.0km, min 2.0km); 3 sites were too isolated for a meaningful measurement of the spacing.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2008 are available in Table 2b.

Table 2b: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2008

What dreadful results. Last year it was emphasised that the results needed careful interpretation as Goshawk is number 3 in priority in the study and visits are only made primarily to locate this species in February-April before the Honey-buzzard and Hobby return. However, two years in a row where high spring numbers have been followed by very low or non-existent numbers of juveniles and very few adults in summer and early autumn do suggest something is wrong and human persecution of the species must be suspected. In the main grouse rearing areas the Goshawk is now very scarce. The main pheasant rearing areas (Tyne Valley, Lower South Tyne and parts of Hexhamshire and Allen) which did offer some refuge for the Goshawk unfortunately now appear to be acting as sink areas for juvenile Goshawk bred in the Border Forests, where there is much less persecution but also less medium-sized avian prey. Such actions probably increase Honey-buzzard breeding success as the Goshawk is one of its predators. However, as said before, we are not farming Honey-buzzards which have to take their chance with the Goshawk, just as they do in a natural balance on the continent. The outcome for the 2006-7 seasons was similar.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2009 are available in Table 3.

Table 3: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2009

Data shows a continuing decline with records from just 10 sites, down from 13 in 2008, but some resilience with confirmed and probable breeding at 4 sites. While the decline should be good for Honey-buzzard, I'm not sure it makes that much difference as the 4 sites with most evidence are all close to successful Honey-buzzard sites. Suspect there's so much easier prey around for Goshawk (pigeons, corvids, rabbits) that they're not interested in taking raptors the size of Honey-buzzard, which while they have a weak bill do have powerful talons (for digging). SW Northumberland is still a sink area for the species with juveniles fledged from the Border Forests happily moving into the area with its abundant prey and then being shot. As in 2008 the Tyne Valley is the area where they seem to survive slightly better. As with the Hobby, there is greater confidence this year that fledged juveniles were not missed in September. However, 3 juveniles were seen at sites from August-October where no birds seen earlier. While these may represent local success, they could also have been fledged elsewhere so are in the Possible category.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2010 are available in Table 4.

Table 4: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2010

The results shows the decline continuing but at a slower pace with records from just 8 sites, down from 10 in 2009. It is still the second lowest annual total in the study over 15 years, only 1999 being worse with 7 sites. Five sites occupied in 2009 were vacant this year and 3 new sites were occupied. While the decline should be good for Honey-buzzard, I'm not sure it makes that much difference as the 3 sites where Goshawk bred successfully were also sites where Honey-buzzard bred successfully. Suspect there's so much easier prey around for Goshawk that they're not interested in taking raptors the size of Honey-buzzard. SW Northumberland is still a sink area for the species with juveniles fledged from the Border Forests happily moving into the area with its abundant prey and then being shot. As in 2009 the Tyne Valley is the area where they seem to survive slightly better but the Red Kite situation here does not suggest a happy picture. Again 3 juveniles were seen at sites from July-September where no birds seen earlier. While these may represent local success, they could also have been fledged elsewhere so are in the Possible category.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2011 are available in Table 5.

Table 5: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2011

The poorest year to date with no more than single birds seen at 7 sites and no juveniles seen anywhere in the study area. The Tyne Valley to the E of Hexham continues to provide most of the sightings. The Goshawk on this form is no longer a breeding species in the study area though its secrecy means that one or two pairs may have bred undetected. The habitat is very suitable for the species and there is abundant prey with many rabbit and pigeons. Persecution by game interests is thought to be the culprit in the species decline.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2012 are available in Table 6.

Table 6: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2012

On the surface another abysmal year as in 2011. However, 4 juveniles were seen, 2 of which at least were thought to have been bred locally. Only at one site, Wylam E, was ideal breeding evidence obtained with a pair of adult present in early June and a juvenile in late August. The technique used for Honey-buzzard is far from ideal for Goshawk recording as first visits are made in May/June, when Goshawk are keeping a low profile; so breeding pairs may well not be picked up at this stage. On the other hand the later visits for Honey-buzzard in August/September are well timed for detecting locally-bred Goshawk juveniles. The Tyne Valley to the E of Hexham continues to provide most of the sightings. The habitat remains very suitable for the species and there is abundant prey with many rabbit and pigeons. Persecution by game interests is thought to be the culprit in the species decline.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2013 are available in Table 7.

Table 7: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2013

The very poor performance of recent years continued with birds noted at only 7-8 sites from 2010-2013, compared to 10-14 sites from 2006-2009. Even the one apparent breeding success is not definite as no adults were seen at Towsbank but it has been a regular site and the 2 juveniles present together have been taken at face value. There is no concentration of the sightings, just a thin scattering across the study area. The technique used for Honey-buzzard is far from ideal for Goshawk recording as first visits are made in May/June, when Goshawk are keeping a low profile; so breeding pairs may well not be picked up at this stage. On the other hand the later visits for Honey-buzzard in August/September are well timed for detecting locally-bred Goshawk juveniles. The habitat remains very suitable for the species and there is abundant prey with many rabbit and pigeons. Persecution by game interests is thought to be the culprit in the species decline.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2014 are available in Table 8.

Table 8: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2014

This was the lowest number of sites occupied in the breeding season since the study started in 1996. The only mitigation was that 2 pairs were successful, raising 4 young, the most raised since 2005. The Tyne Valley produced 4 out of the 5 sites, with success at Wylam and Corbridge perhaps reflecting gaps in gamekeeper activity. The habitat remains very suitable for the species and there is abundant prey with many rabbit and pigeons.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2015 are available in Table 9.

Table 9: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2015

This was the poorest breeding season since the study started in 1996 with no birds at all noted in the Tyne Valley W and E which had had residual pockets of colonisation from better times. At the 4 sites at which transient occupation noted, only 1 bird was definitely an adult, suggesting that these birds were doomed immature wanderers from the healthy Border Forest population. Game interests have succeeded in virtually eliminating the species from SW Northumberland. The habitat remains very suitable for the species and there is abundant prey with many rabbit and pigeons.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2016 are available in Table 10.

Table 10: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2016

No adults were seen at any time but juveniles were recorded in August at former regular sites: Towsbank - 2 juvenile male birds, with some diving display; they were near Honey-buzzard, both juvenile and male, but made no effort to attack them; they also ignored Red Kite; Wylam - a juvenile female Goshawk flapping over Horsley Wood in very aggressive style; this is one of the very few places where they appear to breed in the study area, which is very sad, even if they might eat the occasional Honey-buzzard. The youngsters looked to be locally fledged but in cases such as these, the decision is subjective to some extent. It's a dismal picture: the landowners suffer from plagues of Woodpigeon, yet destroy a species, which would be a great ally to them from the farming point of view, to aid the Pheasant shooting.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2017 are available in Table 11.

Table 11: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2017

This was the worst year on record for Goshawk in the study area. In the breeding season only one bird was seen, a male at Staward in the Allen in May. Other sightings were outside the breeding season: a juvenile male at Towsbank in the upper South Tyne in October and a male at Peth Foot on the Devil's Water in December. It's a dismal picture as stated above.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2018 are available in Table 12.

Table 12: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2018

Toleration in an area of the upper South Tyne in the extreme W of the study area gave a welcome lift to productivity figures with post-breeding records in September of a juvenile female at one site and an adult male and a juvenile male at another site. Elsewhere it was again a dismal year for the species with occupation noted in March by a pair at just one site, which apparently was not successful, and a lone juvenile at Wylam in September.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2019 are available in Table 13.

Table 13: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2019

This year saw a welcome revival in the core area of the study area on Devil's Water and Tyne Valley W where 4 sites were occupied. A further site was occupied in Tyne Valley E. The Bulletins of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club were searched from February-October 2019 and 2 additional records of unaged birds in September were included in the above totals from Fourstones and Blanchland, both sites having held birds in the past. Three juvenile were seen, with singles in Devil's Water, Tyne Valley W and Tyne Valley E.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2020 are available in Table 14.

Table 14: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2020

The revival continued in the study area with the highest number of sites occupied since 2010 and the highest number of broods since 2005. In the core area of the study area in the Devil's Water and Tyne Valley W 6 sites were occupied. Further single sites were occupied in Tyne Valley E and Derwent. No visits were made to the upper South Tyne and fewer visits to the Allen and lower South Tyne owing to the way the Honey-buzzard survey was conducted with emphasis on the eastern part of the study area this year. The Bulletins of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club were searched from February-October 2020: no additional records were found. Four juvenile were seen at 4 sites, with 2 in Tyne Valley W and singles in Devil's Water and Tyne Valley E. However with no young noted at 4 sites where display was recorded in the spring, there are no grounds for complacency.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2021 are available in Table 15.

Table 15: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2021

The revival became less certain in 2021 as although the number of sites increased to 11 with 13 adults in occupation, there was very little evidence for successful breeding with just one juvenile noted at one site, that at Ordley by the Devil's Water. In the core area of the study area in the Devil's Water and Tyne Valley W 5 sites were occupied. Two sites were occupied in Derwent and single sites were occupied across the rest of the study area. The greater emphasis on the west of study area this year did produce single sites in the upper South Tyne and Allen, but no broods. The Bulletins of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club were searched from February-October 2021: four additional records at the possible level were found at Melkridge in lower South Tyne, Burntshieldhaugh Hexhamshire, Derwent Gorge and Low Waskerley in Derwent. These are included in the preceding totals. The Goshawk does retain a tenuous hold in the study area here but, as said last year, there are no grounds for complacency, particularly with 7 out of the 11 sites being in the possible breeding category.

More details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2022 are available in Table 16.

Table 16: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2022

A perplexing year for Goshawk with a good start to the year with 9 sites occupied in spring and no records at all after 15/6 when one seen in Dipton Wood. Probable records came from Slaley Forest (pair displaying on 7/2) and Hexham (female displaying on 21/3) with possible records from Cupola Bridge, Wylam, Stublick, Hyons Wood and Dipton Wood from 26/1 to 15/6. The Bulletins of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club were searched from January-September 2022: a site in Hexham was confirmed as probable with multiple sightings in March and two soaring females were seen at Derwent Reservoir on 26/3. Two birds were noted moving N in March: at Derwent Reservoir on 22/3 and Hexham on 7/3 raising the possibility that some of these birds in the study area early in the season are over-wintering and will move N to breed. But it is not clear they were migrating as the 2 sites were both still occupied later in the month. These records from the Bulletin are included in the totals above. The Goshawk does apparently retain a tenuous hold in the study area but its status is uncertain. It is not clear if the secrecy of the birds in summer is masking productivity or if the birds are failing because of stresses such as persecution. The abundance of Woodpigeon in the study area makes it unlikely they would suffer from food shortages.

Details of the Goshawk breeding season for 2023 are available in Table 17

Table 17: Breeding Data for Goshawk in SW Northumberland by area in 2023

The short-term trend is clearer after 2 seasons of zero productivity. The species is occupying some sites in spring but is not able to complete breeding, probably because of persecution. Although NR was away from mid-August for 3 weeks in Georgia, this species breeds early and fledged juveniles should have been visible in the intense fieldwork in mid-August. It is just possible that one pair bred at Whitley Chapel as following sightings here in April and June, a 1w female was present in December at Ordley and Dotland but it is too late in the season to make a definite attribution. Other sites where the species was noted in spring from NR's records were Bywell, Dipton Wood S and Wylam. Two records were added from the Bulletins of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club, searched from January-October 2023: "a male was at Plenmeller Common on 7th March (PRM); on 4th April, one was noted displaying with two Buzzards Buteo buteo SW of Whitley Chapel (AJH)". The first record was added in the possible category; the second reinforced the breeding at this site. The abundance of Woodpigeon in the study area makes it unlikely that productivity would suffer from food shortages.

Multimedia for Goshawk in Northumberland:

Prospect Hill, Corbridge 22 August 2021, adult female Goshawk perched on a low shrub 1  2  3