Backyard Cooper's Hawk

I was walking around the backyard in the afternoon when I saw a Cooper's Hawk swoop low towards our back spruce tree. As it got closer to the ground, it smoothly transitioned to running and ran under the tree, hopping up on a low branch. I assume it was trying to approach the brush pile unseen, the home of dozens of House Sparrows, but using my wood pile as a screen. It sat there for a while, and I eventually went inside. Soon, it flew up to my bird feeder and landed on the ground. Then it walked between the house and our lilac bush and laid down. I had not seen this behavior before. It didn't seem hurt. It was gone after dinner. It was by our drier vent, but I don't believe that the drier was running. Strange. I couldn't get a picture of it laying down, but I could barely see it through the window.

Hawk Ridge

We stopped by Hawk Ridge on the north side of Duluth on Labor Day.  The view alone was worth the stop.

The serious hawk watchers sat on a little platform, which commanded quite a view of the ridge line and shore.

All of the volunteers were fairly disappointed with the migration that day.  Sharp-shinned Hawks seemed to be the most numerous while we watched.

In conjunction with the watch, they were also banding the migrants.  They brought this juvenile Sharpie out for us to see.

It was nice to see these tiny hawks up close.

The lookout point

They had several feeders set up around the point.  The Black-capped Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows were regulars.  This Lincoln Sparrow stopped by, giving me a nice look.

Coopers Hawk with a Starling

If you flip through the pictures, it is almost like a flip-book, although six minutes elapsed between the first photo in this sequence and the last. I was sitting on the sofa, which is below the window to my bird feeder. I had just re-stocked the sunflower seed, since they are really going through it in these temperatures. The sound of birds fighting interrupted our reading. We all (including Laney) jumped up to look out the window. I saw a Cooper's Hawk fall to the ground with a Starling. It looked like the Cooper took the Starling from my suet feeder. The Cooper flew off into my backyard and landed about a hundred feet away. I rushed to get my camera. The hawk sat there in the wind for a while, maybe letting the Starling finish dying. Then the feathers started flying. Fifteen minutes later, he was done. It was cool to see the difference between the immature that came a couple weeks ago. Experience must pay off. It was cool to see one of these guys utilizing my feeder. In a way, the Cooper was eating my black oil sunflower seed and suet. Don't mind losing a Starling, either.

Cooper's Hawk

I was sitting at the window watching the bird feeder, luckily with my camera ready. With a sudden rush, this immature Cooper landed in my crabapple tree above the feeder and all other birds made themselves scarce. The Cooper cast a fierce and intense glance around and then took off as suddenly as it had arrived.

Kansas Swainson's Hawks

Swainson's Hawk on a fencepost, Gray County, Kansas.


Swainson's Hawks were the most common Buteo I observed this past week in southwestern Kansas. I saw several Red-tailed Hawks and one Rough-legged Hawk, but the majority were Swainson's Hawks.


A Swainson's Hawk takes off from a wheat field where it had been sheltering from the constant wind.


These three shots were taken in rapid succession. I like it for it's flip-book like action. Hunting, looking over at me, and then sailing off. I just missed getting to photograph this hawk with its pair going through the courtship ritual where they grasp talons and fall together. It was fun to watch.

Birds of Rainbow River

To read more about our canoe trip down the Rainbow River, see the previous post. The birding down on the river that day did not disappoint. I didn't bring my camera or binoculars, but we were close enough to many of the birds for Joy's camera to get some great pictures. Here you can see an Anhinga in breeding plummage resting on a perch above the river. Joy and I played the classic game Cormorant/Anhinga? for most of the trip. Joy was very good by the end of the day.

We floated up close to a Tri-colored Heron feeding at an in-stream marsh. He was sharing this feeding ground with a Little Blue Heron. We only saw one Tri all day. Common Moorhens (Galinules) and Common Coots were swimming around this stretch, too.

An adult Little Blue Heron at another marsh. We saw two adults and one immature all day. Great Egrets were the most common heron. I think we also saw a couple Snowy's here, too, but no picture.

A Double-crested Cormorant. Both cormorants and anhingas were common along the river.

We had a Swallow-tail Kite fly-over. I love these birds. Shortly afterwards, a Barred Owl called to us from a Cypress grove, sounding like it was only a couple yards away. Speaking of the old Acciptridae family, we saw several Red-shouldered Hawks and Osprey's (now in Pandionidae by some.)

A White Ibis feeds along the shore. These guys were fairly abundant. Around this stretch, we floated right past a gorgeous pair of Wood Ducks. Later in the afternoon, we saw one Limpkin flying up the river past us.

A father Sandhill Crane stands watch by his nest. I first spotted the mother laying down on the nest. We didn't get too close, because I didn't want to disturb her. It was very cool to see them nesting.

A cormorant rookery in an old cypress.

The nestlings and the parents were both making un-earthly noises.

A Great Blue Heron enjoys the afternoon sun. To round out our heron list, we saw a pair of Green Herons shortly after this. What a fun trip.

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

A Northern Harrier watches the sunrise from his roost in the marsh.

Greater Roadrunner on top of a bluff.

Western Kingbirds were everywhere, and fairly noisy as well. Cassin's Kingbirds show up at the refuge, so I had to keep my eye on them.

A gorgeous Bullock's Oriole shows off briefly. I could hear orioles in several different trees, but I had very little luck catching glimpses of them. Of course I was also looking for Hooded Orioles.

Rock Wren

Black Phoebe

Taking my siesta in the shade beside Upper Pahranagat Lake. The day got up into the nineties, and I had gotten on the road by three, so it was nice to relax.

Last Saturday I visited Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo, Nevada. The refuge is located in a valley on the edge of the Great Basin and Mohave Desert. The variety of habitats, including lake and wetlands attract many birds. I struck out on several birds (Verdin, Phainopepla, several different Thrashers), so I might have to go again if I get a chance.

Bird Feeder

We have been enjoying our hawk feeder out the kitchen window. We stock it mostly with House Sparrows. Several times we have seen a Cooper's Hawk come to the feeder. This guy landed in the Crab Apple right beside the feeder. I enjoy seeing them come around.

We also get some Cardinals, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, House Finches, and Catbirds coming to the feeder.

Swainson's Hawk

Taking photos of a hawk in flight sure can be hit-or-miss. Here are three that are more hit than miss.





Ah, for the ones that got away...

Ferruginous Hawk

The Ferruginous Hawk is probably my favorite western raptor. This dark morph dove for a ground squirrel out in the valley while I was driving. I wasn't quick enough to get a picture while he was on the ground. What a glorious hawk! The bottom two pictures are scenery shots from earlier in the day.