This bird was definitely a goshawk, it swooped down at us and by the time i got my camera ready it was almost gone. Apparently, goshawks are the only raptors that do this so my id is a goshawk. When I saw it dive down it was a larger, gray hawk, pretty unmistakable in my opinion.
(Balsa labecula) Indian Springs WMA, Kuhns Ridge Road, Washington County, Maryland. July 3, 2024. At UV light.rr
(Martyringa latipennis) Indian Springs WMA, Kuhns Ridge Road, Washington County, Maryland. July 3, 2024. At UV light.
(Nemoria bistriaria) Kuhns Ridge Road, Indian Springs WMA, Washington County, Maryland. July 12, 2024.
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Anthoathecata
Morphology: This hydrozoan forms large colonies of branching tentacles. It typically has a dark main stem with lighter pink or reddish polyps.
Fun Fact: This organism has been used in research into prey-capture mechanisms. They use their nematocysts to stun and temporarily paralyze zooplankton that float by.
Their tentacles then bring their prey to their mouth.