Cooper’s Hawk

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin

Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks look very much alike. I’m going to go with Cooper’s on this beauty. She stopped by the yard today to scare off the little birds. Fortunately for the little birds at the feeder, and unfortunately for her, her surprise attack yielded no results. Everyone remained on edge until she left. She flew over to the neighbor’s and watched a bush where cardinals often hang out, but no luck. I felt sorry for her. She looked frustrated and hungry as she took off into the wooded area. Click on pictures to enlarge.

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

While I haven’t been out as much as I would like, I love seeing the arrival of our wintering friends. Bald eagles from the north are beginning to arrive and the harriers seem to be swooping low over fields everywhere I look. I saw my first group of common goldeneyes last week (there is definitely nothing common about them; they are beautiful). Young deer are looking much more grownup than a few months ago. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Purple martins v. red-tailed hawk

Posted on April 12, 2011 by admin

A red-tailed hawk very stubbornly sat herself on top of this purple martin house. I watched for a while as the purple martins dive-bombed and called her some pretty nasty names.

Purple martins are amazing aerialists. The poor red-tailed hawk was no match for them despite the difference in size.

They won. She moved on.

Ready for takeoff

Posted on March 28, 2011 by admin

Another lovely red-tailed hawk. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Check you out

Posted on January 31, 2011 by admin

I love how the hawks do this little nonchalant look sometimes as they fly over. It’s probably something like, “Hey. Look at that silly human standing out in the cold.” Click on pictures to enlarge.

Frosty Wakarusa Wetlands

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

I’m loving these cold mornings at the Wetlands. Bluebirds and harriers. Oh my. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Wintering hawk

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

Many hawks winter in Kansas. Watch for them along the roadsides. Click on picture to enlarge.

Sharpie watch

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

I’ll start by saying, I know she has to eat, but… This sharpie was stalking our feeder for a few days. The blue jays sound the alarm first, then everyone scatters. The smaller birds dive into a bush near the feeder. The sharpie is smart. After pacing around the bush trying to get at some of the smaller birds, she flew up into a nearby tree. Camouflaged behind some branches, she waited. However, not to be outsmarted, the little birds did not return to the feeder until she was long gone. I haven’t seen her in a few days, so I think she’s moved on. I hope she does okay.

This is a tough time to be a raptor. Operation Wildlife has been taking in quite a few that have been hit by cars while hunting. Apparently, they like to hunt on the roadside because people throw garbage out. Rats and mice go after the garbage and the raptors go after the rats and mice–too close to busy highways.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

New neighbor

Posted on August 18, 2010 by admin

I was out taking pictures of hummingbirds this morning when our postal carrier came by and told me a red-tailed hawk was sitting on the roof of a nearby house. I walked down and sure enough, there she was. She is a young one, not scared enough of humans yet to know better. She sure is pretty! Look at those feet! Click on pictures to enlarge.

Young cooper’s hawk

Posted on August 13, 2010 by admin

A very young cooper’s hawk kept the blue jays busy in our backyard this morning. Everywhere she went, they followed. When they got bored chasing her, she would come back, swoop down at them, and the chase was on again. She’s learning to hunt and the blue jays are quite tired of dealing with her. I’m constantly amazed by the drama going on right over our heads. Click on pictures to enlarge.

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