Resident Hawk

gogittum

Going to try an experiment here.  In addition to taking pictures, I'm also a story teller and have 100s that I've shared.  I'm going to try copying and pasting a short one to see if it works.  Here goes:     Nope, didn't work.  Do it the slow way:

A few days ago, I was working at the computer and saw a flurry of movement near the feeder out of the corner of my eye.  A quick look up and I saw a small Hawk down by the watering dish with a Finch in its' talons.  You can barely see the Finch.  Had time for just 1 quick shot and he grabbed his lunch and took off over the hill with it.  I kind of hated to see the little guy killed like that, but Hawks have to eat, too..........

This morning, at the computer again, and saw a Pigeon land in the plum tree that holds the feeder.  Haven't had Pigeons here in the past and I wasn't pleased - I look on them as flying Rats.  A closer look, I saw the hooked beak and I grabbed for the camera.  My Hawk raising friend in SE Oregon had tentatively identified the one the other day as a Sharp Shinned Hawk.  Mr. Hawk has found the cafeteria and came back for a repeat but was disappointed this time.......but I wasn't.  I got a couple of very nice shots of him and my friend confirmed the Sharp Shinned identification..........

Hawk about 20 ft away, taken thru living room window.



He sure has a wicked set of talons.

Not sure if this is an acceptable way of doing things.  Hope so.......let me know.

L8RBRA

Looks like a coopers hawk. 

redsgurl

While they are easily confused, I agree with the Sharpie. I would also say, due to the appearance of a smaller hawk, this is a male or a young female. Females are up to 1/3 larger than the males, and are about the size of a Coopers. One sure way to tell is the tail.  A Sharpie's tail is squared off when resting, with the outer feathers slightly longer and a small cleft in the middle, and a thin white tip. A Cooper's Hawk's tail at rest is rounded, with a larger white tip.

It's a wonderful capture regardless, and a novel way to take an image. I guess I better go clean my windows......

DEADEYE DICK

nice job!!

JWT

wow- i can't say i have ever seen one close enough to see the differences between them & other related hawks.  great captures! 

swampdog

Awesome!

CountryBumpkin

Nice........is it just me or does his right talon look deformed or extra long maybe.

redsgurl

May be. Or weight distribution? I have an image somewhere of a dead hawk I found at work that was noticeably different in the size of talons. I'll have to see if I can find it. Good eye! 

gogittum

CountryBumpkin said:

Nice........is it just me or does his right talon look deformed or extra long maybe.

Man, you had me going for a minute or 3 - I never noticed it before, either, so went back to original files and I have over a dozen shots of it in that position - so not a boo-boo in my editing as I'd 1st thought.  The reason is now clear.......



In this shot, he'd (she'd ??) moved its' foot and you can see the stub of a branch sticking out.  Look closely at the original that you noticed and you can see it as well, but not as clearly.  Ah, soooo.....still a very long talon.  Thanks for the sharp eye.