Eurasian Goshawk over Darley Dale

 It's not the first Goshawk I've seen from the garden, but it's the first I've had circling directly overhead! Judging the size of a circling bird that doesn't flap is notoriously difficult but there are a couple of features that help to separate this bird from the structurally simiilar, though distinctly smaller, Eurasian Sparrowhawk. This is a female Goshawk which is close to Common Buzzard in size and looks bulky in the photo.

Eurasian Goshawk

Firstly, the tail is noticeably rounded, the Sparrowhawk has tail feathers of equal length so the tail looks square ended, although it will look rounded if the tail is fanned. The Goshawk has outer tail feathers that are distinctly shorter than the central feathers, most obvious on the second photo. 

Secondly, the barring is rather indistinct on the secondaries and absent on the inner secondaries. On Sparrowhawks of all ages there are distinct even bars right across the secondaries - see photo below.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

You might also note that I'm calling it Eurasian Goshawk, until recently Northern Goshawk was the name used for all birds in the Northern Hemisphere but the American birds are now treated as a separate species; American Goshawk and European and Asian birds are Eurasian Goshawk, so I've some editing of labels to do.

If your interested in Goshawk identification you can find a more detailed review here.

I was quite please with the photo as I saw the bird then had to dash inside, get the camera from the camera bag, run out and take a photo, all the time hoping it was still in view.