Tag Archives: birds of prey

Calling all birders….

.

We’ve had a beautiful bird of prey hunting around our property lately and I’m damned if I can identify him.

He’s a good size, pale feathered with black wing tips, and has been hard as hell to photograph because he flies very quickly.

I thought it might be an Osprey but there’s not enough brown.

I thought it was a juvenile red tail hawk, but it’s still too light in color.

These are the best shots I’ve managed so far, taken across the road on our neighbors farm.

.

.

He skims the ground quite low.

.

.

I’m sure it’s good mousing over there.

.

.

Anyone have an idea who he is?

.

Backyard training grounds

.

We have a young Coopers hawk who enjoys using our backyard bird feeders as a training ground for hunting. He’s not very adept at capture yet, but he sure does give it the old college try.

.

.

He also drives Lord Dudley Mountcatten completely insane. The poor feline is confused. It’s a bird, so he’s fascinated. But it’s a predator, so he’s scared.

.

.

It’s only a matter of time before blood and feathers will be scattered on the ground.

.

.

And while that’s hard to take….

.

.

Hawks really are beautiful creatures.

.

.

And deserve to eat just like the rest of us.

.

A real treat.

.

A few more pictures from my camera last month.

.

IMG_3675

.

Look at this beautiful juvenile red tail hawk.

.

IMG_3670

.

Just hanging out on the bird feeder pole waiting for lunch to drop in.

.

IMG_3682

.

We see him cruising over the property now and then…

.

IMG_3686

.

But he rarely perches so close to the house for an extended period of time.

.

IMG_3643

.

Heck, he was even comfortable enough to take a bath.

.

IMG_3628

.

They really are spectacular creatures.

.

IMG_3629

.

Thanks for dropping by big guy.

.

IMG_3621

.

And if you happen to see a mangy little red squirrel wandering the roof line?

Please don’t miss.

.

Backyard wildlife, homicide division.

.

Mother and Bambi are chowing down regularly and trying to lay on extra winter pounds.

.

IMG_3603

.

But sadly I was right about the blue eyes fading. Once this little one grows up we won’t be able to distinguish him/her so easily.

.

IMG_3602

.

But look who’s made our backyard his new hunting ground….

.

IMG_3615

.

A juvenile Coopers Hawk.

He perches on the bird feeder pole and waits patiently for lunch to drop in.

.

IMG_3650

.

I got excited when I saw this:

.

IMG_3580

.

And was seriously hoping mother red squirrel had met her doom…

.

IMG_3581

.

But unfortunately it was a dove.

.

IMG_3582

.

Better luck next time guy.

.

Timing is everything.

.

And it’s always bad at Casa River.

.

IMG_3514

.

Yesterday morning I saw that rat bastard red squirrel.

.

IMG_3513

.

She was running all over our roof and gutter probably looking for a way back into the house.

.

IMG_3515

.

I chased her off with the broom, but 10 minutes later she was back. She hung around for another half hour or so and for once….

I wish she’d stayed a little longer.

.

IMG_3487

.

Well, hello there.

.

IMG_3488

.

 Your timing was awful, but please come back another day.

I have multiple squirrel recipes to share.

.