I was walking along a paved path out in the open when I saw this hawk in grass that was perhaps 8" tall. It was hopping around just a bit, and then I realized that it probably was holding something he had caught, down on the ground. I stayed at some distance, not to spook him. After a minute or so he flapped his wings and lifted off, carrying a small mouse! He flew into this tree, which fortunately I could still see with my 200mm telephoto lens. I watched him pull off pieces of the mouse and eat them, while keeping the mouse firmly in place with his claws. Wow, what an awful way to die if you are a mouse. The laws of nature at work I guess. I think this is a Red Tail hawk, and I love how beautiful they are in their fierceness. I love to watch raptors as they glide along looking for their prey on the ground. But I have never seen this before.
I don't like the thought of seeing this but it is nature. I see Osprey flying with a fish in its mouth, but I don't see him having dinner.
ReplyDeleteJoan
I saw a Red Shouldered Hawk catch a chipmunk in the backyard. He stayed on the ground for a while then flew off toward a tall tree. The hawks are beautiful to watch when they are soaring the skies. You really got a beautiful close up. Betsey
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