Monday, July 25, 2011

My World - Three days of the hawk

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday a pair of young Coopers Hawks visited us. I have occasionally spotted a Coopers Hawk high up in a tree or soaring overhead. Thursday I spotted one on the fence post and then discovered another on the ground. Friday they both went for a drink in the birdbath.



Saturday, Marianne spotted the hawk on the ground as a squirrel came down the tree looking for dinner. I went for my camera and got a few shots as the hawk tried to corner the squirrel. Attacking from the air, the hawk has the advantage. On the ground the squirrel easily out maneuvered the hawk. The hawk flew back up to a tree limb and the squirrel calmly ate his acorns, slowly working his way across the yard.


Hawk flew to the birdbath and squirrel wandered over to the lilac bushes. Hawk followed, but from his perch on the fence could not see the squirrel (and neither could I).

The hawk eventually flew high up into a nearby tree. Said squirrel left the liliacs and climbed the same tree where the hawk was perched. For a little more of the hawk/squirrel saga visit my Odd Shots - Living dangerously post. I did not see either of them on Sunday and during the three days, the usual small birds did not visit our birdbaths.

9 comments:

tw3 said...

What action shots.
Never seen a hawk on the ground.
Nor in the air, come to think of it :-)
Well, not knowingly.

Anonymous said...

Such a magnificent creature.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

They are very interesting hawks. Do you think they were migrating already?

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic captures, Lew! Love the hawk and that squirrel is a confident little guy, isn't he! Terrific! Hope your week is off to a great start!

Sylvia

EG CameraGirl said...

Wonderful shots of the hawk! I've never seen one in a birdbath before!

imac said...

Hey Lew - these are really super shots my friend.
See you have a wonderful Header too, was you in an aircraft to get that shot?

VioletSky said...

Great shots! It is a little worrying that no birds or squirrels have been around since. It would have been too gruesome had you actually seen the hawk attacking his dinner.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, cool shots of the Coopers hawk. It is neat seeing one and you captured two together. That cool! Great shots! Have a great week, Lew.

Arija said...

What a great time you had over the three days. Great squirrel and hawk story.