On a recent Sunday afternoon my Mom and Stepdad had come for a visit. We had sat in the rockers on the front porch and talked and caught up with all the news. As we sat there my stepdad noticed some turkeys in the front yard crossing our driveway. Hubs and I are used to seeing them and I knew the path they would take. They paid no mind to us as they made their daily path around the edge of the yard and underneath a nearby oak to eat some acorns.After awhile we all moved inside to get some watermelon and something to drink. When we finished my Mom and I sat down on the couch in the living room and had only been talking a few minutes. I looked at her to say something and as she was sitting in line with the window I saw this hawk steady itself and land on an old tall tree stump at the edge of the front yard. I told my Mom to look at the hawk as I got up and ran for my camera. The photo isn't crisp because I was aiming through the living room window. I got two photos before he flew away. If you enlarge the photo and look closely he has his talons around a piece of bark for some reason.
I hear them a lot and see them overhead but this is the closest encounter I've had in my own yard. I think that old stump is going to stay in place for awhile!
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21 comments:
What a wonderful photo. I wonder if that bark he's holding, or she is holding is for a nest that is being built. But then why would he/she not let it go when it landed on the tree stump. Maybe he/she was tired? Excellent my friend. Love the photo. That bird is beautiful :)
A tool using hawk! Its going to drop it on a turkey and hope it knocks it out?
Wonderful photo! Always some of the most intriguing photos are those that are unplanned! I have never seen a hawk like this before either!
Oh, what a lovely surprise in your yard!
No idea what he meant to do with the piece of wood.
Oh don't you just LOVE it when nature comes to you like that!? Such a gift! It's HARD to get clear shots through the window -- and you know what would happen if you go beyond the window -- or sometimes even if you get too close TO the window! It's great you were able to get what you did! And small sized it looks GOOD! :)
What a wonderful occasion, that could never happen here !
great shot, also really love your header today
Still a nice shot for being through window...seems like it distorts most of the ones I take through a window.
He's gorgeous. I love hawks. i got pictures of a young one that flew into my front porch window and stunned its self. They are hard to get because the are so watchful. I wonder if it is female and collecting nesting material.
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What a wonderful shot. Hawks are such amazing birds to me.
Wow! How great to have it come down so close. I looked up Cooper's Hawk online and did some reading (you're still motivating education!). The hawks make their nests from twigs and tree bark.
Congrats on the great capture! I don't know what she/he's doing with bark either. It seems late in the year to be building a nest.
Stumps are great. We have a few posts in the back yard, the remains of an irrigation system, and they attract all kinds of birds.
Now Carletta, it's you! I've been wondering if you were the same blogger whom I used to leave comment with your birdie posting.
Welcome to the SWF! Thanks for the visit.
I know your specialty is bird photography. And this hawk is certainly a nice capture.
Plant some low flowers around it and leave it forever. Maybe you will have a forever visitor.
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It may not be a crisp shot. But it is still a good one. I like those Cooper Hawks.
I can only imagine how exciting that must have been and I loved your photo.
Great catch Carletta..I haven't seen any hawks here since the leaves came in on all the trees. Maybe he or she was grasping to help keep his balance or something...Thank you for posting to Nature Notes... Michelle
I never can manage to get my camera out fast enough to catch the hawks. Great capture through the window (mine have too many dog nose prints to take pictures).
I am SO jealous. I really want a hawk to visit me... but I'm glad you got the visit in any case. Interesting that he's holding on to the bark! You have the best visitors in your yard.
You are so lucky! And, I'm jealous. lol I scan the skies looking for one.
It's always more exciting when you see something completely unexpected - what a wonderful surprise!
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