Just Hawking Around

So back in June on the 16th I am coming home on my bicycle from work and a hawk flies overhead and perches on my neighbors roof. I figured it would fly away by the time I got into my house grabbed a camera and headed out, but no it had not. It actually flew across the street to a fence to watch the hood.

So I started moving slowly and went across the street and got a shot before it flew to another tree, which my curiosity made me get close to and by doing that it flew out to a bush. Now I was shooting towards the sun around 6 PM but didn't want to move anymore. Really didn't want to stress the hawk and you have to take what you are given. The hawk rested on the ground, then the bush and it was only about 25 feet away so luckily I had been shooting with a big old 70-200/f2.8 so I could get some reach.

What I did not know was the hawk was looking for dinner! It made a small little jump towards the ground then just rammed into the bush that you see it sitting on. BOOM! about a dozen sparrows go flying out of the bush (they had been absolutely silent) and then the hawk came out with one in its clutches. Of course I had been so in tune with what it was doing I had quit shooting and was just watching......Dinner was served!

Enjoy the shots - I believe this is a 'Cooper's Hawk' based on the ambush method of attack! Plus the size, tail feathers and Head based on most of my research I am sticking with the Cooper's Hawk.

Thanks for reading!

Tim-