More bird excitement

The other day I showed you some birds that are making spring in my garden exciting. Today there's more to share, starting with this hawk.

I'm pretty sure this is a red-tailed hawk, a juvenile who is not quite a year old.

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Hawk

I was doing more cleanup in the front garden this weekend, and between wheelbarrow loads of spreading community pile mulch I saw a hawk land in the tree across the street.

Whenever I'm covered in garden dirt and debris and see a possible photo opportunity, I mentally weigh the advantages: what's the subject? How common is it? Is the lighting good? What are the chances that the opportunity will be gone by the time I remove my tightly-laced muddy boots to go inside, grab my camera, fit my long lens (vintage screw-on type) then get back outside?

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Watching

Yesterday morning, with the temperature around 12ºF (-11ºC) I was not outside. Instead I was cozy indoors with a fire in the stove and eggnog french toast on my fork. A flash of brown caught my eye out the window...

A hawk had landed first in my silver maple tree, then quickly moved to my neighbor's where it spent the next 15 minutes or so scoping out my veggie garden and surrounding ground.

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Hawk!

A hawk finished its meal in one of the trees behind my yard yesterday and hung around for at least 30 minutes afterward.

Lucky break for me, as I got a chance to take several shots of this impressive bird!

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Hawk!

For the past couple of days this hawk has been visiting my yard. I'm pretty sure it's a red-shouldered hawk, unless there is another hawk species that looks very similar.

Perhaps all of the grasses and bamboos that are currently covered in snow make my garden appear to be the perfect winter hunting location, with lots of hiding spots for rabbits and other delicious morsels for a ravenous raptor.

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