 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
Showing posts with label Cooper's Hawk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooper's Hawk. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Cooper's Hawk
A few days ago, we had a snow day off from work. I took the opportunity to watch our backyard feeders for any photo-op, after filling them - mostly because of the blanket of snow making it more difficult for birds to find their own food. Sparrows, Starlings, and White-Winged Doves visited throughout the day. They would all gather to eat, then all fly off into a nearby bush, then back to the feeders again. At one point, they all made a panicked exit and just disappeared. A few seconds later, this beautiful raptor showed up and lit on the fence near one of the feeders.
The Cooper's will watch from a nearby location in the vicinity of bird feeders. On the menu for them are smaller birds such as sparrows. This one didn't get a meal this time, but he was nice enough to pose for me for a few minutes.
He also made a fly-by as he departed for other opportunities, allowing me to get a clear view of his underside.
The Cooper's can be found here in the panhandle all year 'round.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Cooper's Hawk
It's not every day you see a Cooper's Hawk at your bird feeder. (This is my first sighting/identification of the Cooper's.)
While watching for photo-ops of various birds at my bird feeder this morning, I saw movement low in a lilac bush where its branches were dense. As I watched, this Cooper's hopped out onto the ground less than 7 yards from me - just long enough for me to get this shot. Unfortunately, I had to get it at an angle through a chain link fence.
Thinking about it, it's the perfect setup. A lilac bush isn't the deciduous forestry areas it normally prefers, but this Cooper's Hawk knew that the lilac bush was the staging area for sparrows - it being next to my feeder. The Cooper's main diet is birds - and they will chase them relentlessly through the woods. What better "diner" than an active bird feeder? It was apparently trying to take advantage of that setup.
The Cooper's Hawk is not a stranger to the panhandle. We are in its breeding and year round range, as is most of North America.
.
While watching for photo-ops of various birds at my bird feeder this morning, I saw movement low in a lilac bush where its branches were dense. As I watched, this Cooper's hopped out onto the ground less than 7 yards from me - just long enough for me to get this shot. Unfortunately, I had to get it at an angle through a chain link fence.
Thinking about it, it's the perfect setup. A lilac bush isn't the deciduous forestry areas it normally prefers, but this Cooper's Hawk knew that the lilac bush was the staging area for sparrows - it being next to my feeder. The Cooper's main diet is birds - and they will chase them relentlessly through the woods. What better "diner" than an active bird feeder? It was apparently trying to take advantage of that setup.
The Cooper's Hawk is not a stranger to the panhandle. We are in its breeding and year round range, as is most of North America.
 | |
| Cooper's Hawk |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
