Goshawk

It has been snowing a lot in France these days. And I love it, even if  it’s a little complicated to drive… Still, every time I can go walking in my favorite forest, I like following tracks left by animals.

A few days ago, I discovered two tracks: a bird of prey and a hare. And there was blood. I imagined the scene: the bird saw the hare and attacked. Thanks to powerful paws and claws, the mammal was quickly killed, pulled  and taken away, as there was no evidence of hairs.

A few yards farther, I saw the birds’ prints in the snow. They were fresh, dating from the previous night at most. So, I made photos and took measures to show friends of mine who are serious ornithologists. They hesitated with a buzzard, but they went 80% for a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).