A raptor visitation
Posted: January 27, 2012 Filed under: 365 Yoga Challenge, Adventures in Life, Air, Critters, Earth, home, nature, Photography, Spirit, Walking, winter | Tags: Akron, Akron Art Museum, birds, Cooper's Hawk, Impressionism, nature, Photography, Red-tailed Hawk, water 59 Comments
Yesterday seemed to be my day to visit with hawks. While out running errands a red-tailed hawk flew close to me, showing off his gorgeous colors and beautiful feathers. I did not have the camera with me at the time. To be honest, even if I had I probably wouldn’t have thought to photograph the hawk because I was stunned by his closeness and beauty.
This amazing creature stopped by late yesterday afternoon to have a snack. Judging by the feathers left behind, I think he caught one of the juncos who visit the feeder. I am not sure what kind of hawk this is, but I’m guessing it’s a Cooper’s Hawk. I bet Christina or Pat could help me out with identification.
The hawk must have been fairly hungry as he didn’t seem to mind me hanging around like his own personal paparazzi.
I had a fun day today. An Artist’s Date of sorts. I spent most of the day over in Akron where I had lunch at my favorite Akron restaurant and then spent a couple of hours at the Akron Art Museum. I went to see the Landscapes From the Age of Impressionism exhibit as well as Supernatural, a photography exhibit. It was nice to spend an afternoon soaking up some art.
Akron Art Museum
Outside, it’s been dreary here in the Bogs. A snizzle (snow and rainy drizzle) has been coming down for a good part of the day. It’s cold, but not freezing. We won’t be cross-country skiing this weekend.
Leaving the Akron Art Museum. (Cross processing done in Picnik.)
Well, that’s about it from the Bogs for today. I’ll leave you with one last look at the hawk. Thank you so much for stopping by. A big thanks to all of you who left comments on yesterday’s post regarding reblogging. I appreciate you taking the time to leave your thoughts on the matter.
Have a fantastic weekend! If you happen to have some sunshine where you’re at, please pass some this way. It would be nice to see it again.
Life in the Bogs 
Good God–the hawk photos are stunning. Where is the LOVE button when I need it?
Have a great weekend, my friend.
Hugs,
Kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy. 🙂
I’ve wanted a LOVE button for a few of your posts, too. Maybe we can get WP to replace the reblog button with a LOVE button.
Hawks are incredible creatures and seem to be becoming more and more prevalent. I do find them fascinating but fear when they come into the yard since I do not want to lose any of my feathered or furry critters!
There’s a balance there, between predator and prey, Tracy. As much as I don’t like to see the little critters get taken, predators are part of the whole circle of life and help keep the prey populations in balance.
Still… I know what you mean. 🙂
Love, love, love hawks! There is one hanging out here at work fairly close to my office. he is a big boy and I hope to catch him with the camera sometime! Your shots of your hawk are awesome!
Thank you, Derrick. 🙂
I love them too. They are amazing creatures.
I had one hit a dove and throw it onto my office window and then proceed to snack just outside the door. :O
It must be the time of year for hawks! I spotted four in the last couple of days. One landed in the Poplar tree by the house here last weekend. Hoping to catch lunch on the fly by the bird feeders!
Your pictures are stunning. thank you.
Thank you, Joss. 🙂
OH….so so beautiful!! Yes, looks like a Cooper’s Hawk though it is far more gray than I am used to seeing (they are more brown over here). Could be his winter colors since there should be more snow this time of year. Either way – just gorgeous. I do admit that I was bummed when the sharp shinned hawk was hanging out in my back yard that I never saw him snatch a snack 🙂 Circle of life and all that and I am fully aware that the smaller birds I’m feeding are often food for something else!
Thanks, Christina. 🙂
Whatever he is, I enjoyed having him over to visit. Haven’t seen many birds at the feeder since his visit though…
While I wouldn’t rule out it being a Cooper’s, the grayness and the flared brow have me thinking it could also be a juvenile northern goshawk. It’s one of the two for sure. The goshawk is a bit bigger than the Cooper’s but of course you can’t tell unless they are side by side. Regardless, it’s a beautiful photo
Thank you, Pat. As I mentioned to Bob, we’re a little outside of the northern goshawk’s range (winter or year-round, now that I look again), but we’ve had to occasional odd (not in our range) bird show up here over the years.
A snizzle… I like that word and my have we been experiencing it around here! You clever girl! And now I have to work backward and catch up with your post from yesterday because your reference to it here has me intrigued…
Thanks, CFBookChick. 🙂
I’ve never seen a norther goshawk but that one does look too gray for the Cooper Hawks we have here in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful bird.
That seems to be the consensus, Loren. I agree with you… whatever is is, it’s beautiful. 🙂
Robin, so Beautiful! Awesome images of such an amazing bird. Can I introduce Bob Zeller at bobzeller.wordpress.com
He’s an expert at birding. Maybe you can check his site. He’s very helpful in providing identification and such. Love your captures.
Thanks, Martina. 🙂
Love those images of the hawk. What beautiful markings!
Thank you, Kala. 🙂
Looks like a Cooper’s Hawk to me too … cool that he let you hang around.
And you can have the sun and heat! It’s January and it’s frickin 80 degrees here! Take it .. Please!
Sheesh … that should be “hang” not “hand”. 🙄 Can you tell it’s been a crummy week?
I just want the sunshine, DragonFae. You can keep the heat. 😀
(I fixed that typo for you.)
What a wonderful bird. Lovely pictures
Thank you, Gilraen. 🙂
Not much help on American birds of prey, but they sure are amazing to see in the wild aren’t they… Great shots too Robin..
Thanks, Brian. 🙂
Other than knowing it’s not a red tail, I wouldn’t know the hawk type. Nonetheless, I never get tired of seeing hawks. Good catch! … and I love the current header!!!
Thank you, Frank. 🙂
Until last year, we only had red tails and the occaisional kestrel. Now, there seem to be a dozen others that I can’t ID…still hoping for a great shot like you got!
Well, you get wild turkeys and deer crossing your path, Marie (neither of which I see here although I know they’re out there!). 🙂
That hawk does look a bit grayer than I’ve seen Cooper’s hawks, but I’m no expert. Bob Zeller (at “Texas Tweeties”) and I have been doing a little debating about hawk ID’s lately. I’m going to send him a link to this post; he’s quite the birder and may have a good idea of its identity. Great shots! Love how you got to have a little photo shoot with him or her.
Thank you, Karma. And thank you so much for sending Bob my way to have a look at the hawk. 🙂
First, you have great photos of the hawk. I am like Pat and Christina, I am leaning towards it being a Northern Goshawk, perhaps a juvenile. It is, in my opinion too grey for it to be a Coopers. Karma sent me a link an asked me to check in with you. 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by to have a look, Bob. (Thank you to Karma, too, for asking you.) We are a little outside of the Northern Goshawk’s winter range, but not so far outside that isn’t possible. It was small enough to be a juvenile (just a little larger than crow size).
Thanks so much for your input. I appreciate it. I’ve been admiring your photos for a while. 🙂
Well at least Bob, who has an absolutely great birding blog, is as doubtful about it being a Cooper’s as I was. By the way, Robin. I gave you a Bean’s Pat on today’s blog. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time in nature with you through your awesome photos.
Thank you, Pat! I’m on my way over to have a look. I appreciate the honor. 🙂
Robin, great shots! We have mostly brown hawks here. I have a feather tacked up above our front door. The day we closed on this house and came to it as owners, a hawk circled above us three times and dropped a feather at our feet. We considered a blessing and a welcome.
Thank you, Lynn. 🙂
What a wonderful welcome to have received!
I’ve nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award.
http://ldthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/kreativ-blogger-award/
Join in if you like but there is no obligation to participate. I so enjoy your blogs and just wish to thank you for sharing and dropping by my blog too.
Thank you so much, Eldy! I appreciate that. 🙂
That hawk looks like it means business! Cool that he let you hang around and take paparazzi shots of him… I don’t have that much luck with most birds and the camera, especially large ones.
I never used to have much luck photographing birds either, Dana. Each year I seem to do a little better. 🙂
That’s amazing!!! What a lucky day, to share it with a beautiful creature like this.
I think so too, Cindy. Very lucky. 🙂
I’ve been seeing a lot of hawks lately too. I don’t know if you’ve seen my pictures of them. (I could have done without the photo of the feathers. On this matter I pref to keep my head in the sand.)
I have, Christine. Just haven’t had a chance to leave comments yet. 🙂
I used to prefer to keep my head in the sand too. That changed during my year of getting outside every day. I ran across death in some form every day, and have become more accepting of it as part of the natural cycle.
Super photos! It was great that he/she posed for you for such a long time!
Thank you, David. I feel lucky that he or she did. 🙂
Wonderful bird photos, thanks, and you’ve made me giggle with the “snizzle” word again. 😀
Thanks, Sallyann. And if it brings on giggles, “snizzle” is a great word. 🙂
[…] unsure about the third as I haven’t been able to get a good look at it. It might be my mystery hawk who caused some discussion at a bird ID forum. One side declared “Cooper’s […]
A powerful looking bird…and a definite “photo op”! Good to have you visit…thanks.
He was definitely a good photo op. Thanks from stopping by, Joni. 🙂
Wow! Those birds are amazing! I second (or third) that LOVE button idea 🙂
Thank you, Marieke. 🙂
Amazing shots of the hawk ( I am soooo jealous you had such a close encounter with this visitor). What a treat – thanks for sharing ( and we have about 30 seconds of sun here – and I really really am sorry I can’t pass some along ….must go back outdoors!)
Thank you, PhilosopherMouse. It was a very lucky treat. 🙂
Enjoy your 30 seconds of sunshine.