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Hawk!

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by boomertsfx, Jul 23, 2007.

  1. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    We were on our way to the pool the other day when we heard a large "eeeeeeeeeeeeee!" sound of a bird and saw some huge wings circling over the back of our townhouse. We walked around back and couldn't believe what we saw.

    It appears to be some kind of hawk and it was being dive-bombed by a mockingbird (?), so we thought it had gotten a baby bird, but on closer inspection it was a bunny. The hawk must have been too close to the mockingbird's nest or something, but the hawk let me get within about 6' from him which was amazing!

    Anyways, here are some pics that I took:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/boomertsfx/20070717BirdOfPrey

    One of my favs:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/boomertsfx/20070717BirdOfPrey/photo#5090386775666277634
     
  2. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    those were some of the coolest pictures!! Awesome. That would have been really great to see. I guess you got your own Discovery Channel show. These hawks have been catching rabbits in our back yard too... that sound of the rabbit screaming will give you chills....
     
  3. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    Boomer - I think what you have a hold of there is an immature Peregrine Falcon. The most populous hawk in this area is the Red Tailed, and he doesn't fit the bill.

    Compare the markings on the legs of your raptor with the photo as well as the head markings.
     
  4. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    Those are some really great shots! What camera are you using?
     
  5. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Kaos... I think you are off on your identification. The Perigrine is smaller in size than this one and the markings are really different. I am not sure what this one is based upon a quick look. It almost looked like an Eagle of some kind (which is in the hawk family too) but my initial guess was a red-shouldered hawk.
     
  6. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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  7. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    It's a Canon Digital Rebel XT w/ a Sigma 28-300 Lens. It's all in the lens, and this one was pretty cheap (~$230) compared to what the pros use, but it takes great pix compared to normal digital cams!
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    Yeah, I'm wondering if what I heard was the rabbit screaming... eek! But it was definately cool to see, especially being able to get so close... I did see another large bird circling at about 500' up, I'm wondering if it was competition or the spouse or something... =)

    The last pictures are when I finally scared him off I guess... the mockingbird was coming at him from one side and me from another, but he flew off with what was left of the rabbit with the mockingbird still chasing him, which you can see in the second to last pic.
     
  9. tiff78

    tiff78 Broadlands Resident

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    What we heard was a huge scuffle with screaming and squawking in our backyard... big bird + little bird + bunny = lots of noise. Being 7 months pregnant and to short :< I couldn't look over the fence to see anything. However, when the bird sat on the fence, it was amazing to be able to watch something like that!
     
  10. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    Those are great photos, and you're an amazing photographer! Thanks for sharing.
     
  11. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    You guys have ALL the fun! :(

    Very nice pics, however.
     
  12. broken skull

    broken skull New Member

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    Those photos are indeed quite spectacular. I have seen a few hawks flying around the 'hood. But I have yet to have one land close enough to get a good look at.
     
  13. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    boomertsfx,

    Nice camera work. The shots were amazing. If the hawks start talking, I bet we might have more soon. We have a lot of bunnies!
     
  14. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    Send the hawk my way. I'd love to get rid of the condo development that the chipmunks have going on under my daughter's sandbox. ;)

    Nice pics btw!
     
  15. neilz

    neilz New Member

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    Great shots ... reminds me of the time my wife was on our back deck with our two cats. Our grey cat (part Russian Blue) was out sunning herself, when this Peregrine landed in a nearby tree. It was definitely scoping out the available food sources, when my wife stood up and put herself between the hawk and the cat. She stared at the hawk the whole time basically saying, she's mine, try to get her.

    The hawk then nonchalantly shook itself, and flew off. My wife is very confident that our cat would have been dinner.
     
  16. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    From our friends at the Audubon..."Red-tailed hawk -- appears to be a juvenile. Their biggest challenge is surviving the first year out of the nest, especially by honing their hunting skills so that they get enough to eat. This one seems to be off to a good start!"



    Cliff Fairweather

    Manager - Naturalist

    Audubon Naturalist Society

    Rust Nature Sanctuary
     
  17. quailpond06

    quailpond06 New Member

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    Funny you should mention you saw it fly off with a bunny! I was traumatized a couple of weeks ago--I opened my curtains one morning to hear the same Eeeeekkk noise. I looked down in time to see one take off with the baby bunny that had been living near our house in it's clutches. I was quite upset...I mean, I know this stuff happens in nature, but I did not want to WITNESS it!
     
  18. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    Something (hawk maybe?) got a bluejay today in my yard. Everyday this bluejay comes to my feeder. Saw him early this morning but then no more. Leaving to go on a walk today and my daughter noticed a large "pile" of feathers and fluff on the ground under our crape myrtle tree. They were definitely from a blue jay. There were at least 6-8 feathers and a very large amount of the white "puff" (belly feathers??) Now, this jay is quite large. Could it have been a hawk?
     
  19. VAluvr

    VAluvr New Member

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    Pretty sure the hawk is a Red-shouldered Hawk.
     
  20. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Probably one of dozens of hungry stray cats roaming the community:(
     

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