Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk

Daily Photo

As the sun sent light skipping across the tops of ridges and trees this morning leaving splashes of color behind,  some areas were left untouched–monochrome amid the gold.  A darker lump clamped to the top of a tall fir on the dark side of Druid’s Knoll puzzled me.  Climbing up the steep hillside while trying to turn shape into sense, the sound of birds chittering companionably competed with me gasping for air. To my surprise, the lump resolved into a hawk.  Creeping closer, attempting to remain unnoticed while my border collie, Touch, leapt and barked at everything and nothing, I tried to photograph the raptor.

With a cry of irratation, it flew off but so slow and low that I knew he (? This one was an adult–the irises of its eyes were no longer yellow–and not large so probably male as the females are up to a third bigger) would settle again.

Finally, I found the hawk basking in the morning light on top of an oak.  All around a score of songbirds, some ruby throated woodpeckers and  a couple of  jays called and swirled  in a complicated dance.  In fact, one cocky Stellar preened and arched it’s blue neck just a scant dozen feet from the hawk. I thought the presence of a predator might terrify the smaller birds but either they knew the raptor was slow from the frosty night or else they knew they weren’t its preferred food.

Someday, I hope to find the nest.  Last summer (see links below) I saw not only the mated pair that we usually have but several young.

Hawk Flying

Two Hawks and a Snake

Young Hawk

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9 Comments
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nursemyra
Guest
15 years ago

that’s a very stern look 🙂

Staff
Member
15 years ago

A rather tough taskmaster, I would say.

Heather
Guest
15 years ago

How Cool!

Ernie's Place
Guest
15 years ago

“All around a score of songbirds, some ruby throated woodpeckers and a couple of jays called and swirled in a complicated dance.”

Down in Benbow, the darn Jay Birds are standoffish. They won’t dance with the “Ruby Throated Woodpeckers“.

Great shot of the Redtailed Hawk, they are hard to get close to. We have a nest above our house in Benbow I can hear the nest commotion from my house, and I have often seen the little striped fledgling learning to hunt on the golf course. But, I never found their nest.

thegnukid
Guest
15 years ago

i think he was considering if you’d be too big for lunch… nice shot.

silverstar98121
Guest
15 years ago

I’d love to get close enough to get that shot with a 200 mm lens. That would be cool. Very impressive.

Staff
Member
15 years ago

Ernie, the ruby throated woodpeckers got the Jays drunk on sunshine otherwise the crotchety fellows would stumped around muttering about newcomers;>

Silverstar, I want an even bigger lens. I want to take photos of the hawks high overhead. Or the coyotes way off on the far ridge. This craving for new equipment isn’t healthy!

forkboy
Guest
15 years ago

It’s a grand photograph of a very proud looking bird.

Staff
Member
15 years ago

Thank you and, hooray, you’re back, Forkboy.