Saturday, December 13, 2008

Camera Critters #36

Camera Critters by Misty Dawn, go here to see who's participating.

Today I'm going to show you a hawk that has been hunting the area. It landed in the Maple Tree on a dark drizzly day so I did the best I could with the photos. He sat in the tree, look to the left side, trying to dry off.
A couple Blue Jays thought that was a bad idea.
They flitted around the tree telling him this was their area.
If you click on this one one of the Blue Jays was doing a dive at the hawk.
The hawk ignored them. I'm fairly sure it is a Coopers Hawk. A fairly big bird that hunts the area.
He knew I was watching and kept checking on me.
The wind blew his feathers around but he didn't seem to mind.
He just kept his eyes out for any prey.
He was a fairly big bird and it would have helped if the weather was better for the photos.
That is what I'm showing so go out there and see what other critters are being shown.

44 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

FG, I love hawks---but don't want them near my feeders. Today--he might have had a feast if he were here since I had cardinals, tufted, chickadees, nuthatches, Carolina wrens, and lots of finches (gold and house) at my feeders.
Betsy

EG CameraGirl said...

I've NEVER gotten a good photo of a hawk!

BTW: I'm first on the list by accident. I just happened to visit the website at the right time. ;-)

Dina said...

I love the hawk's sidelong glance at you. Love the way you tell the story.

Unknown said...

That is such an impressive bird. You managed some really great shots, which is hard to do.

It's bitterly cold here and I'm sick, so it's nice to look out at the feeder outside my window and see chickadees and finches, cardinals and nuthatches.

Lapa37 said...

Great shotsI don't think the dreary weather messed them up at all

Gemma Wiseman said...

Amazing you managed to get so many shots! Love the textures on the feathers!

Reader Wil said...

Well thank you for showing this set of photos! It's very interesting. I think the Blue Jays were very brave. Great photos! Thanks for your visit. Have a great weekend.

Jack and Joann said...

Fishing Guy, nice shots of the hawk. I do think it is a Coopers Hawk. Blue Jays are aggressive birds and will attack a hawk in a flock.

Hope your wife is recuperating well.

Have you read that Old Man Lincoln is back in the hospital with another collasped lung!

DrowseyMonkey-Photos said...

These are great photos! My sister also got a photo of a hawk this week...only I didn't post it ... maybe next week.

Twisted Fencepost said...

The shots are good enough to know what they are, so they're good enough for me!
I really like hawks. They are cautious and patient.

Shelley said...

I loved seeing the B Jays harrass the hawk - but I do love the hawk more!

Michele said...

Oh no, never be apologetic for your photos. The majority of people have never had a chance to see this and that include ME!! This is fantastic and I'm so proud of you for getting these shots. Impressive and I must say, despite the weather, the clarity is quite good!
Good job and I'm looking forward to seeing many more...
(Hug)
~Michele~

Jane Hards Photography said...

Considering the amount of little garden birds I get we seldom get hawks. Great series of shots.

George said...

What a great series of photos! I thought they were very good in spite of the weather. I've never come close to getting anything like these.

Unknown said...

Hawks are so sneaky..We love to watch them dive at the Squirrels around her.

bobbie said...

Great shots, especially considering the weather.

kayleen said...

I've found many a hawk and owl because of the blue jays and crows harassing them. Great shots.

Jo Castillo said...

Great hawk photos, not easy to get.

Tina said...

FG,
What a great series of photos! I was surprised to see the jay make a dive at the hawk..he was, as you said, a good sized hawk!..and you must have been thrilled to have captured both birds in the same picture. I would think this would be very hard to do!
Congrats. Hope all is well on the home front. :)

Susan at Stony River said...

Wonderful photos, and such a bird! I've never done such a good job of capturing a hawk, so I enjoyed this post very much...
I *am* good at ducks! LOL

Thank you for your good wishes earlier today (I'm feeling much better, just sore) and I hope your wife's doing well too. Thanks also for such a wonderful post, introducing me to a new meme (oh nooo!)

Unknown said...

Excellent series of photos. The one with the jay diving at him is exceptional.

threesidesofcrazy said...

You got some great close ups!

Indrani said...

You got a very good shot of the Hawk. We see plenty here but could never capture on lens. :)

Anonymous said...

Crows will also mob a hawk..I had a Coopers in and out of my feeder area today. Much as I don't like it, they have to eat too..

Unknown said...

Sighting of a raptor is always exciting and amazing experience. Your excitement is beautifully documented in these images.

You know what "Fishing Guy"...Since I follow 100 blogs. This is what I do. I open up multiple blogs at the same time and your is one of the first to open and the last to comment on (like I m doing now).

I do this because I enjoy your music. It makes my commenting experience on all blogs pleasurable...Have a nice weekend, Thomas

Mary said...

These are great and the bluejay dive bombing run is a terrific capture.

Anonymous said...

Oh noooo am sure that is going to love my entry today. :)

beautiful set of pictures. :)

Anonymous said...

Hawks are pretty elusive, aren't they? I'm surprised he set there long enough for you to take so many pictures!!! Happy Hunting!!!

Carletta said...

I see we've both been 'shooting' hawks!

Anonymous said...

Nice progression of hawk photos. I always find it fascinating when the raptors ignore the birds like jays, blackbirds, and even crows. They don't seem to fear or give up their personal power to an angry group of birds.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am amazed that he did not take one of the Blus Jays for dinner. :)

Anonymous said...

Hawk are noble looking-but can be so mean! Love the pic of the ruffled wind blown feathers. Very neat.

Gretchen said...

Beautiful shots! Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! :)

Ken Conger Photography said...

Great series of images and commentary. Always neat watching birds of prey. Blue Skies.

Unknown said...

Neat shots!I love to watch hawks.

A Colorful World said...

Neat post! I love this beautiful hawk and am so glad you captured him on film!

Marie

Misty DawnS said...

How awesome! As you know, I've been trying to get good photos of the big birds around here... but they are determined to not allow me to get good photos of them. hehe

Janet, said...

those are great photos of the hawk. I have one that comes around here in the summer and sits on the end post of my grapevines. But I don't think he's quite as big as yours.

Stacey Olson said...

(grin) wonderful camera critter.. one of my favorite.

i beati said...

i'm very fearful of hawks with my little animals seen a lot- black eyed susies a favorite of mine Sandy

Grammy said...

What fun it must have been to see the hawk . I had a res tail that would fly by with a blue jay on his tail. When I lived in St. Louis. Wish I would have taken a photo then. As I miss them now.

Willard said...

An excellent series, Tom. It's always good to get to see sequences like that.

I also really liked the black eyed susans you posted today. Very beautiful--they are one of my favorite flowers.

Leedra said...

This shows where the term 'hawk eyes' comes from. Great post.

Carla said...

WOW what a beautiful creature! Thanks for sharing (aren't you glad your too big to be prey?)