This Red-tail Hawk has been calling, calling, calling the past few days. Scrreek scrreek scrreek! I saw it make an unsuccessful attempt at capturing a songbird in the front garden.
It looks fierce, but it is a juvenile trying to learn to hunt for itself, and apparently having a tough time.
Hawk eyed
There it goes.
In the neighborhood, Tarantula Hawks on a rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata). Tarantula Hawks act as pollinators for this plant, benefiting not only rush milkweed, but also Monarch Butterflies. No benefit to Tarantulas.
Wild or not? A neighbor's cat, formerly feral, now somewhat tame. Loves the neighbors, wants me to Go Away.
Death ray stare:
Natasha:
What fantastic photos of the hawk! I've never managed one nearly as good. My bunnies, while still making periodic visits, are no longer as omnipresent and I'm crediting the birds of prey. The photo of Boris (or Natasha?) eyeing your Beloved's dinner is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to get close enough to get the hawk pictures. S/he was frustrated in her attempt to catch a songbird at the Urn fountain, so s/he flew over to that light and sat a while. Here the owls, hawks, and coyotes thin out the spring surplus of bunnies pretty quick.
DeleteNatasha. I have a picture of Boris doing the same thing. His eyes are a little more round.
Hello Hoover Boo,
ReplyDeleteFantastic to have these great Hawks visiting your garden.
Beautiful photo's of it.
Have a wonderful weekend ahead.
Marijke
Thank you Marijke! I hope you have a beautiful rosy weekend, too!
DeleteThat sure looks like raccoon pawprints to me. Those rotten little hands. Beautiful shots of the hawk.
ReplyDelete"Rotten little hands" Ha, ha! Amen!
DeleteWhat a fun post seeing the wildlife in and around your garden. I love seeing those beady little eyes peering over the counter watching for drops.
ReplyDeleteAnything dropped is caught before it hits the floor!
DeleteI want to wish that young hawk success, and yet... Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of pics are much-needed mood lifters. Is that Boris? The hope in those eyes is palpable. Your neighbor's cat reminds me of an online image that made me laugh and laugh: Brian Eno being interviewed, with his coal-black cat sitting a foot or so behind him and fixing the interviewer with a glare. "Brian Eno's cat wants you to stick to the pre-agreed questions."The
Wildlife news from here: Getting up and out in the garden by 5:30 a.m. works to deter the deer who started to snack away my whole daylily season! It probably wouldn't stop a determined, doe-led herd of the kind they're plagued with in town, but it's sent the right message to the lone explorer who thought he'd found a handy buffet. At this time of year, I'm told, the does nudge young males out of the group to fend for themselves. The revolution in my schedule is also making me vastly more productive in the garden (many more cool hours), hence happier. Win-win-win; apparently old dogs can learn new tricks...
Natasha.
DeleteThe talons on that hawk were scary big!
That cat's eyes were saying, "Get the h-ll out of my garden!"
Isn't it wonderful being out there early in the morning? So peaceful and beautiful at that time. I love it. The deer is motivating you to get out there early for the very best of the day--that's a positive way to look at it.
They look like raccoon footprints to me. Love the hawk photos! How fun to have one in your yard. We've had owls, but never a hawk.
ReplyDeleteWe hear Owls hooting at night. There's no tree on the property big enough for them to roost in.
DeleteI was up on a ladder one time painting the wrought iron on either side of the big front window and a hawk wheeled around the corner of the house at full speed and nearly hit me in the face. It managed to dodge and a wing tip brushed my ear. That was an unforgettable surprise!
I knew it was raccoons as soon as I read "something knocked a full jar..." -- you didn't need to go further. :) The hawk launching photo is a great one!
ReplyDeleteAt least it went after the koi food instead of the koi! The pond is built with straight vertical sides, so raccoons who prefer to wade in water via a slope have no slope to wade into. That has protected the koi so far anyway (twelve years!) .
DeleteI wish the bird was a little more in focus but the back talons on his feet are clear. Wow, scary claws!
Raccoons are jerks! Not being a social media consumer you might have missed the video of the raccoon climbing the side of a 12 (?) story building? Made me rethink the fence I made to keep them out of the stock tank pond. I assumed they were jumping over from the patio wall. But if they can climb a 2.5 foot straight metal edge I’m in trouble.
ReplyDeleteSaw the raccoon climber on the tv news. She was something!
DeleteThey don't like to jump right into water--they like a "beach" they can gradually wade into--so your tank may be okay. "Jerks", they are the definition of that, yes!
Great pics! I saw the fledgling red-tailed hawks (3!) this morning on the ground at the elementary school where I run the dog. One couldn't get lift and the dog chased s/he to the fenceline. I had to coax the dog away so s/he could get lift going along the fence to get over. One sat on the fence and watched. I love them dearly but yeah, one or more now screech all day long + my trusty am/pm mockingbird. PS. the nest is in a euc in a yard between the school and arroyo/la limonar. A thing of beauty (and noise) for sure.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely raccoon prints! I saw one run across the street a few months ago the size of a beagle.
Perhaps we hear that screeching all day long because there are more than one of them! It's such a plaintive call, "Mom & Dad I'm HUNGRY!!!" I hope they figure out how to hunt soon.
DeleteNow that I think about it, I've noticed all the squirrels both ground and tree I was seeing so many of have vanished. Good birds!