When I look outside and see my backyard birds either freeze in place or flee in haste, it can only mean one thing – they are being stalked by a hawk!
Well, the other day I glanced out the window and saw said stalker perched in a side-yard tree and decided to turn the tables. I picked up my camera, slipped out the front door as quietly as I could, and set about trying to sneak up on this Red-shouldered beauty.
I’d love to boast about the success of my stealthy maneuvers, but they don’t say “eyes like a hawk” for nothing. He was aware of my presence from the moment I stepped outside.
He stared at me briefly with a “go away” glare, and then decided that if I wasn’t leaving, he would!
He only flew to the other side of the house, so I continued my stalking and crept up closer to his new perch. I’m glad he let me get a few shots of him from behind before he got fed up and flew off in search of a more private perch. I love his rich earthy color tones.
And the good news is, I’m pretty sure I will see him again. After all, my buffet for the backyard birds creates a bird buffet for him!
Backyard Bird Nerd 
Wow – he’s a thing of beauty! Perhaps he will just dine on rodents and leave your precious visitors alone. I want to try and paint him at some point. Do you ever upload your photos to pixabay or like place?
He is beautiful!
I upload a lot of pictures onto Flickr…and there is a link to it on this site. (You can get to it by clicking on the three lines in the upper corner). Feel free to paint whatever you like. 🙂
Brilliant captures, Kathy!
Thank you!
Fantastic captures!
Thanks!
Great photos! It makes me sad when people poison these birds. They are so useful. While I would not want them to be in my yard all the time (I enjoy my little songbirds), I really like them in general. They are great mouse catchers, after all!
I saw one devouring a frog last month while in Florida. Kinda creepy, but oh so fascinating!
Wow, what a cool thing to see! I am so excited for nesting season when they are hunting all the time.
We have red-tailed hawks around my neck of the woods. The other day I too saw the usual birds scatter, and then saw a hawk perched on our little tree eating a mouse. He did not like my watching him dine!
I think if I saw one eating a mouse I would try to look away, and yet find myself unable to stop staring!
Yes, it was definitely one of those fascinated yet repulsed moments. Survival of the fittest, as they say!
The master of all he surveys. What a regal bird, Kathy.
“Regal” is exactly the right word!
You have captured the beauty of the Red- shouldered Hawk! Great job, Kathy. 🙂
Thank you!
He or she is beautiful. We have a Coopers hawk hanging around our feeder. Amazing how the little birds can stay still so long. When they scstter there’s usually a fly by immediately after. So far I haven’t seen him succeed at grabbing lunch.
I had a Coopers Hawk fly by as well, but he didn’t land long enough for me to try and get his picture. They are beauties.
What glorious photos that you captured of this hawk! 💕
Thank you. 🙂