The other day, I heard a lot of little upset sounds as Soldier and I walked past this post. I looked up and saw a hawk being attacked by a little bird, no larger than a sparrow. It must have had little ones in the field below. The little bird kept buzzing the large hawk, a bird many times it's size. After a while, the hawk would get fed up and make a threatening move, which would make the smaller bird retreat, but just for a second. Then it was back at it again. This went on for quite a while.
Hoping they would continue their disagreement, I hurried home to get my camera. Birds of prey are very patient, the hawk put up with quite a bit of annoying behavior by the smaller bird. He was still there when I got back. Alone now and aloof, as he looked down on me and my camera, probably wondering if I was going to be some sort of new annoyance he would have to put up with.
I took a few pictures and then the hawk decided he'd had enough disturbances for one morning and took off full of grace.
Circling a few time overhead, then circling higher and higher on the wind
he soon disappeared into the blue sky.
Awesome pics Inger,I also just watched one of my Mama hens attack a hawk in a tree!! She flew/climbed in the tree having hidden her chics and went on a full out attack...it was quite a sight and the hawk flew off....of course I didn't have my camera with me!!
ReplyDeleteOh I love hawks you are lucky to see that. Awesome shots.
ReplyDeleteHey just click on my photos they will be larger. B
they do really get harassed. i guess for good reason. :)
ReplyDeleteLove eagles and hawks. They do have a certain elegance, and they keep the field vermin down.
ReplyDeleteit is surprising he was still there, they are beautiful in flight. bob has 2 that chase his planes at the park, and sit on the soccer goals and watch him. i saw one on a fence once, within touching distance, no camera.
ReplyDeleteyou will like this live cam, copy and paste the link. it is osprey with baby
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/live-osprey-cam
Great photos--as usual!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to take pictures of this :0)
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of something; a few weeks ago Cade set up his big drill rig on a mountain near Vegas. He came back for the weekend and when he went back to work an eagle had made a nest on the top of his rig LOL! They had to shut down the job until the eggs hatch! :) This certain kind of bird is endangered, so it was required by law.
I love them, and unfortunately we don't get to see them much here. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to admire that little bird. It's the strength we find from deep within ourselves when we have to protect our babies.
ReplyDeleteVa fina bilder, vilken tur du hade...vet du vad det var för någon...jag ser ju bara älgar o rådjur :-)
ReplyDeleteI have seen similar battles and you have to admire the courage of the tiny birds.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that sparrow is very greatful for your annoying the hawk away.
That looks to be a very large hawk! What a magnificent creature! And great photographic work Inger, nice job.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I really love seeing raptors -- we have Red-Tailed Hawks living on our Mountain.
ReplyDeleteCool pics - - -.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but I saw a small bird attacking a bigger bird a couple of weeks ago. I was surprised.
Very cool!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! I always love spotting a hawk.
ReplyDeleteI see this a lot here with the eagles, small birds follow them constantly picking on them. The eagles just seem to ignore the whole thing and carry on.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was a red tailed hawk, the most common of the larger raptors in the canyon. It has the broad tail of the species. I didn't pay attention, I just tried to capture it as it flew away. With my little camera this is not an easy thing to do. Liesl's mama hen story above is amazing, as is the story of the eagle nesting and closing down a job site. This is why I love blogging so much. You learn so many interesting things.
ReplyDeleteHe was a patient fellow -- I see them perched on the poles out here, but they always fly away at the smallest of movements. Great captures, Inger. :)
ReplyDeleteDear Inger, this is a strong photo essay that captures a day in the hawk's life and the small birds and yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so observant. Peace.