Despite a relative lack of birds, Sunday’s walk at Belfair was a delight. It’s hunting season, and it’s impossible to ignore the duck hunters blasting away at the edge of the wetlands. Needless to say, as a result birds are easily spooked, and rightfully so. I try to avoid harassing them, even if that means not getting any closeups.
This was about as close as I could get to a small flock of Northern Pintail ducks without disturbing them.
There weren’t even many songbirds, though I did encounter a small flock of Purple Finches
feeding on what’s left of last Fall’s berries.
The special moment of the morning took place just as a I was leaving when this Hawk flew straight down at the path at me and gracefully landed on a branch slightly above my head
At first I was sure it was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, but the more I read the less sure I am. It could also be a Cooper’s Hawk (maybe a sharp-eyed reader will be able to identify it more positively).
Hi Loren,
Nice shot on the hawk. I suspect an expert could give you a quick answer, but here is my guess. I have a shot of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk here:
http://skygardener.zenfolio.com/p512745940/h131c4ab#h3322962f
Your bird is an adult (eye color). It looks to me like your bird has thinner legs and a shorter tail, which argues for a Sharp-shinned.
Thanks, John.
The eye colors are quite different, and the tail on this bird seemed shorter, or, at least, different from that of a Cooper’s Hawk.
You really have an extraordinary collection of bird photos now, Loren.
The hawk photo is lovely, but I also like the Jay in the last batch.
Thanks, Shelley.
Are you still taking photographs? Putting them up on Flikr or anywhere else?
Sharp-shinned. The Cooper’s markings arond the bill and eye are different. Note the yellow notch on the sharp-shinned?
Fantastic pictures. The hawk looks like a painting! I hope you’ll frame that one and hang it on the wall!