The view from my kitchen window is fabulously distracting! I was in the midst of making a salad for dinner one night recently, when I happened to glance out the window. The yard was eerily quiet and not a bird in sight! That’s when I noticed this immature Cooper’s hawk. He sat atop the bird feeder station, silently looking around for some dinner. I grabbed my camera and took these photos through the kitchen window. This bird of prey is quite a sight! Especially in flight!
There are two smallish look-alike hawks in our area. They can be tricky to sometimes tell apart. My best guess would be that I was looking at an immature Cooper’s hawk. They have yellow eyes according to my bird guide. The other hawk I’ve seen here is the slightly smaller Sharp-shinned hawk. I don’t see either one of them very often these days. In past years, they were regular visitors and I’ve seen them nab some small birds in the yard on numerous occassions. They are quick, and strike suddenly! This time however, he saw me move near the window and instantly disappeared into the forest right after after looking straight at me!
Are there any predatory birds in your neighborhood?
Sabine
in cahoots with muddy boots 
He stayed for so many photos, Sabine, allowing us to have a really good look at him. We have plenty of predatory birds, although they generally don’t visit my garden. One I have is the Butcher bird. He’s quite vicious as you might guess from his name, but he has the most beautiful song, so I can almost forgive him. He’s only being himself, after all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I was lucky this guy was so cooperative! I’ve watched a number of documentaries on Australia and the Butcher bird was in it. I’ve watched this hawk nab a woodpecker and small songbirds. But most of the time he leaves hungry.
Also, I really like your latest post on the arid landscape of Australia. Great photos!
LikeLike
Good thing you were able to capture it well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree Arlene! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow, that’s amazing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Beth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are some INCREDIBLE photos!! I’ve never seen one of those birds except on TV. Wonder what he was looking for? I’m not going outside until the smoke clears out. Hope you are relaxing and have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marlene! Maybe he’ll stop by when you are over sometime! He usually swoops in out of nowhere and chases a bird in hopes of catching it. I’ve seen some birds getting carried off in his sharp talons. Afterwards, the yard gets eerily silent for the rest of the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear! He carries off other birds? Goodness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! That’s what he does!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful shots! Wow, a beautiful specimen! It does look young. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tom, thanks for sending me here. This is what I saw yesterday and these shots are much more clear than mine was. I was fumbling for the camera and still a little shook up from the attack on the squirrel.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Linda! I’m glad Tom sent you this way to identify what you saw. I can understand how the attack shook you up because I’ve seen these guys nab a number of birds in the yard. I think I was able to focus in on this moment because the hawk was simply perched and checking out the surroundings. They are amazing creatures!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m glad Tom pointed me here as well. We all share a love of nature and it is nice to interact with others who share our interest. You did get some amazing pictures as the hawk did not see you so you were free to admire it and take photos. I am going to a few hawk events this Fall and hope to see more of them in their natural surroundings … they migrate through a big Park located on Lake Erie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we lived near San Francisco many years ago one of my sons became interested in birds. There always was a Audubon fall migration watch up from the Golden Gate. They would capture and tag some of the birds of prey and then explain just about everything one would want to know. It was fascinating! Fall and early spring are the main migration times and they all come through the San Francisco Bay Area because they don’t have to cross much water. This is one of my favorite bird-watching memories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am looking forward to it and Lake Erie Metropark has several other nature trips, but I figured the Audubon fall migration trek might be more meaningful and interesting. Now that you tell me about your experience I am looking forward to it even more! They mentioned that there is a person who is the official counter and keeps track of all birds of prey who come through on the Fall migration. I saw a sign posted at the Park of his official 2017 tallies and it was impressive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll like the bird count! Cornell University used to also have an annual backyard count that was nationwide. I’m not sure if that one still exists, but it was always fun counting and identifying all the birds visiting the feeders. Happy Bird Counting Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sabine – I hope to write about it when it happens and I will keep my fingers crossed we have good weather that day so a higher count and more sights to see and write about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tom! I felt so lucky to have looked up at the right moment with my camera nearby. 😊
LikeLike
These are amazing photos of this Cooper’s Hawk. Tom (Tom’s Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog) suggested I check out this post after reading my recent post about my brush with a Cooper’s Hawk. I was walking in the Park where I walk daily and I love to interact with the squirrels and feed them peanuts. I had just laid some peanuts on the path for a squirrel and a flash of brown out of nowhere swooped down and went after that squirrel. I felt a little sick, but bless him, he was able to run under a picnic table in the nearby pavilion and escape the predator. I was pretty sure it was a hawk as I’ve seen a hawk gliding overhead for months. I took a picture of it, but it was blurry as I had to fumble to get the camera out and I was still shook up. But Googling later, I discovered from its markings that it was an immature Cooper’s Hawk. The tail feathers and especially the black-tipped beak tipped me off.
Today I was checking out the Facebook neighborhood crime site for our City and discovered a long thread about hawks preying on rabbits, squirrels and small birds and the suggestion that you stay with your small pets when you put them out in the yard. Again, these are great shots. Despite being a predator, they are a beautiful bird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Linda! Cooper’s hawks are incredible! They hardly ever seem to catch anything here, but I’ve seen them snatch small birds on several occasions over the years. I always feel badly, but I guess the hawk needs to eat as well. Your daily walk in the park sounds really nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do hate to see them catch anything in front of me – I know they have to eat, and I was surprised to see they are in abundance in a non-rural neighborhood like ours. I enjoy my daily walks and am off in few minutes to enjoy another one, hopefully without any horror stories to mention when I return.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope your walk was quiet and peaceful Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was Sabine … I saw my first goldfinch this Summer. Usually there are many of them dining on the thistles this time of year, but maybe it is because we had such a late Spring and the thistle seeds are not ready for them to enjoy. There he was, the bright and colorful bird and singing so beautifully. His voice carried far in the early morning. That is why I favor morning walks – less humans and the birds and squirrels are out. The geese and ducks are molting now and have lost their flying feathers so neither have been around a good six weeks or so. We had three sets of goslings in the Park this Spring, and they hatched about two weeks apart. They will be back by Fall. The banks of the Creek are not wide enough that they can stay there while molting. They fly down to the nearby Detroit River instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goldfinches are so beautiful! I finally put some thistle seed out again this summer and we’ve had quite a few come by every day. Most years we had just a few of them, if any. They also love the echinacea and Black-eyed Susan seeds to nibble on. Your park sounds wonderful with all the wildlife!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One year I tried to grow sunflowers for the goldfinches and they were about one week until the whole “pan” would be good for all different types of birds, and it fell over as it got too top heavy. I went out in the yard and the squirrels were feasting themselves silly on it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like squirrels and i like hawks. It’s too bad that one must prey upon the other but that is how nature works. Though i am a vegetarian, i know a lot of people who eat meat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many years ago we had a neighbor who moved here from the South. He hunted squirrels and missed eating squirrel pie. He proceeded to feed the squirrels in his yard (he had two massive trees) and then killed them while they came to eat corncobs and other treats. He was telling me that one day – after I recovered from the horror of hearing the story, I said it is illegal and cruel and if someone reports you, you’ll likely pay a fine. Maybe you can do it during hunting season – I don’t know, but slowly the squirrel population returned to normal in our neighborhood again. I can’t tell you how horrified I was to hear this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard of that too! I can’t imagine doing that for any reason. Some people just are like that unfortunately! I am sorry you had this neighborhood experience!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too Sabine. I wish you could have seen the look on my face when I found out, but apparently he lived on private property down South and was allowed to shoot squirrels and possums. We have a catering company here in Southeast Michigan where I live and they are famous for their muskrat dishes. I was surprised to hear that, but muskrats are in abundance here thanks to our many waterways. They are known around the State of Michigan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my! Muskrat pie! I had never heard of that. It’s always interesting to see what kinds of things people eat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here is a story about how people in SE Michigan like muskrat – I don’t like the looks of them when I see them in the Creek (long tail streaming behind them and tjeu almost have a look like a rat) but people like their muskrat. Here is a story on muskrat preparation: http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/March-2017/Muskrat-Dinners-a-Tradition-During-Lent-Downriver/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! I think I’ll skip that one as a vegetarian. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sabine – I’m not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat red meat … I must confess that even if I did, I’d skip muskrat too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t eat them either if I ate meat! Just too rat-like! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! I almost didn’t send you the post as you could tell from the shape of it what it was and it seemed a little horrifying to me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries! I grew up in a family where almost anything but squirrels and muskrats were eaten! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is why you’re a vegetarian now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No! When I met my husband 38 years ago he was a vegetarian. So I decided it would be easier if we both ate the same meals. We raised our kids this way, and our reasons over the years evolved. But I wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t say I would miss meat and it is just me preparing food as I have no family. That makes sense not to prepare different meals. I only eat chicken or salmon (canned salmon). I don’t know any vegetarians but I did used to work with a guy who was a vegan and had been for years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here! I hate it when the hawks makes off with a bird or any other critter, but it’s their only way to eat and survive. I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 40 years since I do have a choice. Over the years, a number of our friends have become vegetarians as well. I like that! 😊
LikeLike
There are hawks living in our neighborhood. When walking to the park, if the birds are noisy the raptors are elsewhere. But, when it’s silent, they’re looking for a meal! Great capture on the photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the same here! When the hawk makes an appearance the small birds disappear and go silent. I’m glad I spotted him sitting still because usually he appears just as a blur! Have a great weekend Missy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome pictures! I saw a small hawk flying low over the nursery at Friedmans yesterday. Was not able to identify. The air quality has been terrible here and hot, so maybe he was looking for water.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christine! We experienced the bad air all the way past Medford! We hardly stopped to get out of the car. I hope it improves quickly so everyone can breathe again!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing the beauty of your back yard with us, Sabine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure LuAnne! 😊
LikeLike