Morning visitor

[1972FJ55]

So I'm getting ready to head to work this morning, when I hear something splash in the pool. Now I knew the dogs were inside, so I walk over to see what's up, and there's a Coopers hawk standing on the edge of the pool. Now I live in mid-town Tucson, not exactly the wilds. I guess it was time for an early morning bath. He/she stood around while I got my camera and told Rita to come have a look. We spent the next 10-15 minutes watching him/her watching us. Yes, I was late for work...when a flock of birds went overhead, he/she launched after them, in one picture you can see the hawk closing in on a quail, but then they were out of sight.

 

[splitshot]

Awsome.
Back in the day, when I was in 4-H, a Cooper was the main threat of loosing my rollers (acrobatic pigeons for those not savy about bird talk). Although, it was a bummer, it was also cool to see them take one of my feathered prizes mid-air..

 

[murf]

Great pictures ~ Ive always have been fascinated by hawks/eagles.

My latest hawk story, Weve always have had quite a few of the larger Harris hawks in our neighborhood. One evening about 3 months ago right at dusk, my wife and I were in our backyeard when we saw (no exaggeration!) between 25-30 of these large hawks flocking overhead and the all took up residence for the night in the several large eucalyptus trees in our neighbors. These hawks have a large wingspan and it was an amazing scene seeing them all flying together only about 30 feet above us. We got the camera out but since it was right at the cusp of dusk the pictures (after they landed in the trees) didnt come out too well.

I dont know if they were migrating together or? Im not sure of their habits but never heard of them flocking together.

It was cool...

 

[Tools R Us]

My wife likes to feed birds in the backyard, so there will be hundreds of birds on the ground and one of those will make a high speed pass, gets them all moving, a flurry of wings.

 

[flycast]

I saw one swoop down and take a fish out of the catch and release lake in my neighborhood one morning. They sure love all the farm fields around here.

I like that pine in your yard.

 

[DSRTRDR]

at the Nebraska house, they would swoop into the pine where the sparrows hung out

one missed and instead flew head-on into the window - he was woozy and had to gather his bearings for a while

 

[puulboy]

cool pic
In the same vein
You reminded me of this
2004 Rose is making dinner, something hits out family room window then comes the reason. A Harris Hawk we named (Harry).
swooped down and grabbed up this pigeon, carried it over to the other side of the pool and began to devour it. Lighting was bad and we had to take this through the window, but you will get an idea of what we watched. Judging by your picture and my memory it may have been a Coopers

This could be the start of a cool predator thread
Don

 

[Armadillo Red]

My father was a falconer for over 40 years, so we had many different falcons and hawks. This reminded me of the visitor we had. Just a Harris Hawk getting a rest on the bench by our front door. I haven't done an attachment before, so we'll see if this works!
Caryl

 

[DSRTRDR]

 

[1972FJ55]

My father was a falconer for over 40 years, so we had many different falcons and hawks. This reminded me of the visitor we had. Just a Harris Hawk getting a rest on the bench by our front door. I haven't done an attachment before, so we'll see if this works!
Caryl

That must have been facinating to grow up around!

 

[Armadillo Red]

That must have been facinating to grow up around!

Yes, we never really had a cat or a dog, but did have the hawks, falcons, one great horned owl, snakes, turtles, squirrels, a muskrat, one skunk! Many of these were years ago when it wasn't illegal to have them. Now, I don't think you can do this without permits and/or licenses. My father was a "Master Falconer" and hunted ducks and pheasants with his Peregrine falcon until he was 83 or so. Now I just have dogs.

 

[Bomar]

Yes, we never really had a cat or a dog, but did have the hawks, falcons, one great horned owl, snakes, turtles, squirrels, a muskrat, one skunk! Many of these were years ago when it wasn't illegal to have them. Now, I don't think you can do this without permits and/or licenses. My father was a "Master Falconer" and hunted ducks and pheasants with his Peregrine falcon until he was 83 or so. Now I just have dogs.

View attachment 444294

That is AWESOME!!!!!

It is something that I have always wanted to learn/do.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

That is AWESOME!!!!!

It is something that I have always wanted to learn/do.

Thanks for sharing.

X2