While making dinner tonight, I saw a blur shoot across the front yard. I scanned the yard and all the birds had left the feeders and surrounding trees. Usually the yard is full of birds in the feeders and trees in the evening. Then I saw the reason. The blur that has caught the corner of my eye for months, was perched perfectly still on my suet feeding post. My songbirds worst nightmare. I quickly grabbed the camera to take his/her mugshot. Referencing my bird book, it is a draw between the Sharp-shinned Hawk or the Cooper's Hawk. The big difference between these two birds is the shape of the tail, but I never got a good look at the tail. But they share the same appetite for tasty birds at bird feeders. He/She flew away after about five minutes, in pursuit of a naive little bird that happen to fly across the yard...He/She didn't mind all the Canadian Geese across the road in the field.
6 comments:
Nice shot! We have two bald eagles here that I've been trying to catch shots of for months. I don't see many hawks though anymore ;)
Wow. So, do you like having the occasional predator about, or would you just always prefer your songbirds?
I am sad the birds are under attack at times, and can't relax around the feeders. But I understand the whole circle of life thing, and hawks need to eat too... I enjoy birds a lot, no matter what they eat.
I was honored to be so close to a creature like that, but glad I was behind the safety of our dining room window. That hawk is fast! :-)
What a beautiful hawk Jennifer and a great shot! We have big Harrier Hawks here on our farm. Last year one went after our two cats and the chickens. He landed right beside our house then tried to get under the car to try and catch one of the cats. He was too big. Inaya chased him off. Wish I had had my camera ready. I love hawks but sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the other birds as well. Hope everything is going well with you guys. The Terrorist is figuruing out how she can sneak over to your farm and visit her Jersey Cousin the Princess.LOL! (She tried to eat one of the kittens yesterday and got clawed for her troubles.
Take care
Liz
keep a close eye on your (future) chickies if that lovely fellow is a cooper's hawk--they simply love dining on plump little hens. we had one who used to stop by our yard for take-out every week or so, and i literally had to whallop him (or her) away with a broom! the coop is looking good, too!
christy
Ooof.
I go out and scare the cats out of the yard.
They eyeball the quail. hmmph.
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