The Red-shouldered Hawk that was sharing a snag with the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks blended right into the branch when he turned away from me.
The hawk opted to move on.
He didn’t go far, maybe just needed his own space.
These snags stand in one of the wetland cells created as part of the city’s water reclamation process.
Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022
A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks made their nest in a tree that hangs over the exit road at Magnolia Plantation.
With hundreds of treed acres available to them this seems like an odd choice with cars and pedestrians passing all day long.
That’s a frog leg sticking up by the hawk’s feet, soon to be breakfast for the chicks.
The chicks were ready for their next meal.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 29, 2022
I was out with my shorter lens when this Red-shouldered Hawk flew into a tree ahead of me in a local park. Like me, he had places to go and quickly moved on.
February 11, 2022
I spotted this hawk while I was walking around the barnyard at Middleton Place. He was looking down at me, not much concerned by my presence.
I think this is a Red-shouldered Hawk, probably immature. I moved along and a few minutes later I was alerted that he did, too, as the pigeons that perch on the barn roof took to the air in a frenzy.
October 19, 2021
This Red-shouldered Hawk was enjoying the early morning sun high over a swamp.
Surprisingly he did not take flight as I got closer.
And closer.
I had a pretty good angle, and would have enjoyed a “take off” shot.
But he wasn’t moved, even as I walked under him.
I continued on my way, and yes he stayed right there.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 18, 2021
Ted and I took a stupendous boat tour at Okefenokee Swamp a few days ago.
This Red-shouldered Hawk was the first bird of the day, shortly after sun rise.
He looks a little tattered, but he had no trouble with his flight skills.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida line in the United States. A majority of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness.
A Red-shouldered Hawk watched the sun come up into a cloudless sky on a recent crisp morning.
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.
