STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Son was awakened this morning by a loud thud. Found a hawk on the enclosed patio (aka the dog's room). A sliding door on one end is kept open to allow the dogs access to the back yard; a sliding door on the other end is kept closed to prevent the dogs from escaping captivity.

Apparently the hawk came in the open doorway and TRIED to exit through the closed door. It was a stunning experience. Son found hawk quietly standing on floor with the two Great Danes sniffing at him. He put the dogs out and I got out my camera.

I didn't have time for my camera to adjust to the heat and humidity on the porch, so I was constantly having to wipe the condensation off the lens and the lighting was very poor. I did the best I could with the dogs barking at the window wanting back in on the action; the Jack Russell trying to get out of the house onto the porch to do her own sniff test; my husband giving me directions; and my son warning me about the hawk's talons. Geesh! Everybody just calm down!

When I attempted to walk to the other side of the room to get a different perspective, that was just too much for the hawk. He flew into a window at one end of the room; we opened his door to freedom. Then he flew into a window at the other end of the room only a foot away from the one window that had been left wide open. After regaining his bearings, he crossed the room again and flew into the window half of the doorway to freedom -- knocked himself cold and fell just two feet from the opening. He roused after a couple of minutes and escaped to freedom. I hope he's okay and doesn't have a headache.

These pictures are SOOC, not even cropped. The hawk is probably a red-tailed as they are so abundant in this area, but I don't know. I'm counting on the Hogs to set me straight.

I haven't seen BOP used here before; it's Bird On Porch.
Shot with Canon 60D; Sigma 150-500

Calmly posing, thinking "what the ...?" Tv 1/4; f/5.6; 400iso; @ 213mm


Still posing Tv 1; f/8; 400iso; @ 500mm


Regrouping after third thud Tv 0.6; f/8; 400iso; @403mm

Georgie Loc: England

Amazing story and thankyou for sharing the photo's.

Aldebaran Loc: Florida

Amazing experience. I suppose you could PP the last one and get a bit more clarity.. I bet your hands were shaking like crazy. I would have.

nani Loc: Little Egg Harbor, NJ - USA

Amazing photos and story! Our dog would have crawled up on the bed under the pillows!

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

It was a first for me! Thanks for looking.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Good story and photos under stressful conditions...thanks for sharing. Glad the dogs only sniffed...could have been an expensive vet trip otherwise. ;-)

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

I was a bit anxious. Most of the photos were underexposed. I hope when I learn how to PP I can make some silk purses out of them. Thanks for looking.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks. These dogs won't fit under the pillows.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for looking. Yes, I was surprised they only sniffed.

RicknJude Loc: Quebec, Canada

Thanks for the pics and the belly laugh. BOP is funny. :thumbup:

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Glad I could brighten your day.

Carolina Wings Loc: Flew from North Carolina to Pennsylvania

Your BOP story was really enjoyable...nice set :-D

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for looking. I was hoping the hawk would drop in for another visit, but he hasn't yet.

Dennis

With the black horizontal stripes across it's tail I believe it to be a Coopers hawk.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for responding. After posting the photos I went exploring and didn't think it looked like the red-tailed since it didn't have the red tail. Thought maybe a Coopers - an immature?