Thursday, June 25, 2009

Unexpected Carnage

Landing w/dinner in talon.


Yesterday around 5pm I was standing by Julie's kitchen window when I saw a rather large flapping of wings coming toward me that was headed just above the roof line. It also looked like there was something dangling below those wings...and more than just a pair of bird legs. I went out the front door, looked up at the roof, and there he was. A red-tail hawk. With his dinner. I really didn't need to see his dinner. I know, I know - it's natural, that old circle thing, but I really didn't need to see it and be reminded it was a living creature just minutes ago. (I'm a wimp.)

Though this is the best photo I was able to shoot, it's still rather poor as I was too far away from Mr. Red-Tail. (Do yourself a favor and visit Stacy's blogs to see beautiful photos of hawks and other birds of prey, among other things.)

What a magnificent creature Red-Tail is!

~~~

xoabb
expect anything!

11 comments:

  1. wow huge hawk and quite beautiful too!!!!!!!

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  2. Holy Carnage! THAT's a bit dinner! Our poor hawks get little mice and finches here. They're missing out! It's a wonder yours can fly with something that huge dangling below.

    (I'm a wimp about the thing being alive a few seconds ago, too. I know the same things you know, but it's tough to take.)

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  3. Wow, Annie! While I was out photographing birds yesterday, my cat delivered a treat to our front door. It was a little chickadee. Drat!

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  4. Annie: What a great shot of the hungry hawk. I don't feel the least bit sad about this action. It is a young groundhog, one of my gardens mortal enimies.

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  5. Fishing Guy - I THOUGHT that might be a baby groundhog, but wasn't 75% sure. Thanks for the ID of these pesky garden enemies.

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  6. I guess that Red Tail, like Kate, enjoys dining alfresco ..

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  7. The circle of life...can you hear the music in the background?

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  8. we have a few in our neighborhood that stalk the poor doves. I can tell when they're around as the doves get quiet.

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  9. I could swear that looks like some poor child's pet bunny. Ugh.

    However, what a great shot! It's not easy getting good pictures of wildlife. They are never very willing subjects.

    We have quite a few Mississippi Kites (small hawks) that live at our golf course & like to dive-bomb golfers on certain holes when they're nesting. Challenge Golf, for sure.

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  10. Oh, wow,great captures. I have some of those same feelings about the circle of life...

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  11. Great photos! I'm with you....I'd rather not see their dinner, but glad that they have some.

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a thought. It's appreciated! xoabb