A Red-shouldered Hawk watched the sun come up into a cloudless sky on a recent crisp morning.
Red-shouldered Hawk at First Light
Tag Archives: Raptors
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks around Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are pretty tolerant of people passing by.
With human foot traffic mostly limited to paths due to the various ponds and swamps the raptors have a lot of space that is just theirs.
This one took off over a swamp with a “I’m traveling” flap of his wings, not “I’m going for prey” dive giving me a nice level view.
The best thing about winter is leaf-less limbs, that often can be in the image without obscuring a passing bird.
Barred Owl and Mate
I returned to the Owl area about an hour after taking the images in my post Barred Owl, Cozy In The Sun to find the Owl in the same spot, perhaps shifted a bit with the sun.
Barred Owls haven’t been spotted in this immediate area for months and I wondered if this was one of the parents of last year’s Barred Owl Owlet . And also if the mate might also be around.
I wandered around the small pond and saw a large white splat on the ground. Looking up, there s/he was.
Because the two owls were so close together, maybe 150 feet (45 Meters) I’m reasonably sure they are a couple. An interloper, even last year’s young, would be driven off.
January 28, 2021
Barred Owl, Cozy In The Sun
A passing photographer shared this Barred Owl’s location; I’m not sure I would have spotted it unless it moved when I was right there.
He was puffed up for the cold and wind, and appeared to be snoozing, but did rouse enough for a bit of grooming on his gigantic claw.
The resurrection fern just to the left of the owl on the Live Oak branch was looking good after the previous day’s rain around 1 1/2 inches ( 4 cm) .
Eagle: Fish for Dinner
In a new flight pattern this fall and winter, I’ve seen Bald Eagles flying over the pond with the Great Blue Heron rookery. A couple of weeks ago I saw one go by and about four minutes later one came back with a fish in his claws.
I can’t say for certain its the same bird but given their territorial nature it is likely, making that a pretty efficient dinner run.
Bald Eagle Pair, Nest
Back in October I posted images of a Bald Eagle Pair. After taking those photographs I look in that tree every time I pass by and three weeks ago I was rewarded with one half of the pair on the very same branch.
The mate was nearby, perched on their nest.
Wordless Wednesday: Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk, Take Off
As is often the case with Red-shouldered Hawks, I heard this one before I spotted him having a look about.
He of course, was keenly aware of my presence.
And away he went.
Black Vultures In Pines
I love to watch Black Vultures, at least from afar. They aren’t that attractive but are skillful flyers and do a fabulous job keeping dead stuff cleaned up. I was happy to spot this pair perched high in a pine tree.
It turns out as I looked around and heard the distinctive flap-flap-flap of Vultures taking off that there were dozens of them, sitting in and flying around a stand of pine trees.
The cloudy sky wasn’t a great asset to these images, but you can see how the birds arranged themselves.
This last image conveys the massive size of the trees and some of the soaring that was going on.
October 20, 2020
Osprey Perched Over My Head
The pond below this Osprey was way to shallow for him to hunt, but he seemed fascinated by something.
I moved along and got a better view, especially when he sat up.
