Watch for flying objects…
I was crouched down underneath the Witch Hazel today trying for a shot of the yellow flowers against a pretty blue sky when I heard a commotion in the forsythia bushes next to me. I glanced over just in time to see a hawk about 4 feet away from me. It had apparently just struck a smaller bird. We stared at each other through the branches for a moment and then I finally had the presence of mind to raise my camera, but too late! He launched with the small bird in talons. I took pictures as best I could having neither the right lens or the time to look through the viewfinder. As it turns out in looking at the pictures later I believe that the small bird was a cardinal — the beak is a giveaway. It was amazing how fast the hawk could fly even carrying the other bird. They are certainly the masters of the sky. I can’t tell which hawk it is from the pictures, but something tells me I will get another chance to see in the future…
Hawk with Cardinal
Hawk w cardinal as he flys away
And oh yes, I did get the witch hazel against the blue sky….
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) against the blue sky
I realize that hawks have to eat too, but I would have preferred it had eaten a squirrel or rat.
I agree with Les. It is disturbing to think that like eats like (I mean bird eats bird) so happily and without consideration. Now, if they were after the dratted pigeons or doves, I would go out of my way to show them my appreciation. But then, those are rats.
?
Wonderful capture. Are you going to have a permanent tripod under that tree from now on