Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

After I posted the Red-tailed Hawk hunting a squirrel, I reflected on the event a lot. This had been an experience that I may never witness again in my life time. Should I see another hunt like this, what are the chances I'll have a camera in my hand and a front row seat from which I can record it. As I was going through the images I realized that the actual capture of the squirrel, by the hawk, wasn't the highlight of the episode but it was the apex around which the drama revolved. As a photographer, it was the sequence of events, displayed by the hawk, that left an indelible mark. To be able to witness these moves as he planned the attack, had never been observed by me. As I see these pictures again I wonder what was going through his mind at the time. Was it pure instinct or is there a much greater brain development in place, allowing the hawk to strategically develop a plan of attack? I'll never know but since they never fail to amaze me, I prefer to believe the latter.
In this post there are 8 images. Two of which I posted in the first segment but I'm including them again to show the chronilogical order in which things unfolded.

1/ It was from this post where it all started. He had alreay seen the squirrel and watched it climb the tree where the catch would occur. You can see the intensity in his eyes and from his body language it was obvious that his hunting instincts had been kicked into high gear.


2/ From the perch he had flown to the rail and from there looked directly into the lens as if to make a statement. The hunt is on, stay out of it.


3/ He's looking at the base of the trunk where the squirrel had started his climb. When a squirrel senses danger he'll automatically reach for the highest place in a tree. Height is his friend as long as there's another tree nearby to which he can jump and make his get away. In this case there wasn't.


4/ The hawk visually, followed the trail the squirrel had taken.


5/ And there was the rodent. High up but completely isolated.


6/ Now the hawk had to turn. His take off would have to be into free space since the tree blocked his direction of travel. From this position he launched. When he became airborne, the raptor turned 180 degrees and flew through a tangle of branches to reach his quarry. It happened so fast that I didn't get a single image to show the flight. I heard it but the camera recorded nothing.


7/ I did manage to see his initial landing. One leg on the squirrel and the other used as landing gear.


8/ And this is another view of the mantling which was initiated immediately after hitting the ground. All talons have now firmly impaled his catch and he's warning off any and all intruders. This has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my time of wild life photography. I've witnessed other events, where I've walked away well satisfied but I've never recorded anything in such dramatic and chronological order.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Fantastic series...that poor squirrel probably never knew what hit him. ;-)

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Nice catch.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Amazing tack sharp images telling a story and holding attention. :thumbup:

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

In this case I think the squirrel knew exactly what hit it. He saw the hawk for a considerable period of time.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Thanks.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

And that's exactly what I'm attempting to do Bmac. Thanks for recognizing that.

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

Some fantastic shots. Great job.

E.Whitney Loc: Port Angeles WA.

Great Shots I was out looking for Hawks today no luck

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I understand you 100% regarding the incredible experience you had - except you are able to express it so eloquently :) As if your words weren't already hugely enjoyable, we get to see the amazing story in these gorgeous images. Bravo!

Pierre H.J. Dumais Loc: Mississippi Mills, Ont.

What an adventure for you! You'd almost need to pinch yourself to make sure you were not dreaming as it unfolded. A real thrill.
I love the photos!

Pierre

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Thank you very much.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

You'll find them. Keep looking. Thanks.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Aren't you a Sweetheart, Linda. :oops: Thank you so much for these kind words. I've always been suspect of my wordsmithing skills. Now here's something that you of all people, Linda can relate to. At a young age, I took on the task of writing the ship's news letter when I was serving on one of our destroyers. One of my first articles was of some innocuous action that had taken place in the SCR (Sonar Control Room). The coxswain promptly made me black it out as 'classified' information. It was then I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. Not only was it badly written but I wasn't very sensitive as to what could be written and what shouldn't. And they say, "Join the Navy and learn nothing." Ha!

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Awesome set Joe. When I was a kid back in the woods I saw this all the time. But now when I go back with the camera....I have yet to see it again.:):)
Erv