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Hawk vs Squirrel vs Crows - A photo essay of my free entertainment today.
Dec 16, 2018 22:22:02   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
I heard all the birds blast off from my feeders and looked out. A hawk perched in the play house on top of the old swing set. A squirrel who had gone up on the roof when the hawk dove and was now out of sight above the hawk. The hawk bounced around to different spots on the railing looking for the squirrel. The squirrel took advantage to make a run for it when the hawk went to the side away from the squirrel's tree and the route to it along the top of the terrace wall. The hawk shot back out the near side of the play house and made a half way try but the squirrel had the branches of a small tree between them so the hawk turned left and landed on the fence. (by this time I had my camera up and ready). The squirrel is now on the fence top, safety 10 feet away behind him but didn't dare look away to run. Then the hawk looked around and everywhere he looked he saw something like the cluster of crows on the wire right over his head. 25 to 30 of them at least with more coming from every direction. The hawk took off west bound turned and circled back but had to flee when about half the crows lifted off to chase him. No picture of that part because he had the low sun right behind him when he took off. The squirrel having lost his appetite for sunflower seeds and peanuts scrambled up into the tree. The crows proceeded to steal all the peanuts, then they left.

Who says backyard bird feeders are boring?
And yes, a couple of this year's litter of squirrels are the brightest bulbs in the lamp store. They take dumb chances and sooner or later the hawk will have a squirrel dinner.

Hawk on one fence, squirrel on another
Hawk on one fence, squirrel on another...
(Download)

If I turn to run I lose my cover and he gets me!!!
If I turn to run I lose my cover and he gets me!!!...
(Download)

But right over the hawk's head!
But right over the hawk's head!...
(Download)

And more to the left and in front.
And more to the left and in front....
(Download)

More to the right and behind me!!!
More to the right and behind me!!!...
(Download)

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Dec 16, 2018 22:23:51   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
Great action sequence, Bob!

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Dec 17, 2018 08:23:37   #
gwr Loc: South Dartmouth, Ma.
 
Nice shots. Even though I love Crows, I'm rooting for the hawk. Gary

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Dec 17, 2018 12:22:25   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
Excellent set. It's nice to have such a variety to photograph.

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Dec 17, 2018 13:53:26   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
UTMike wrote:
Great action sequence, Bob!

thank you

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Dec 17, 2018 14:59:04   #
CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
robertjerl wrote:
I heard all the birds blast off from my feeders and looked out. A hawk perched in the play house on top of the old swing set. A squirrel who had gone up on the roof when the hawk dove and was now out of sight above the hawk. The hawk bounced around to different spots on the railing looking for the squirrel. The squirrel took advantage to make a run for it when the hawk went to the side away from the squirrel's tree and the route to it along the top of the terrace wall. The hawk shot back out the near side of the play house and made a half way try but the squirrel had the branches of a small tree between them so the hawk turned left and landed on the fence. (by this time I had my camera up and ready). The squirrel is now on the fence top, safety 10 feet away behind him but didn't dare look away to run. Then the hawk looked around and everywhere he looked he saw something like the cluster of crows on the wire right over his head. 25 to 30 of them at least with more coming from every direction. The hawk took off west bound turned and circled back but had to flee when about half the crows lifted off to chase him. No picture of that part because he had the low sun right behind him when he took off. The squirrel having lost his appetite for sunflower seeds and peanuts scrambled up into the tree. The crows proceeded to steal all the peanuts, then they left.

Who says backyard bird feeders are boring?
And yes, a couple of this year's litter of squirrels are the brightest bulbs in the lamp store. They take dumb chances and sooner or later the hawk will have a squirrel dinner.
I heard all the birds blast off from my feeders an... (show quote)



Jerry, an excellent story told with words and photos. An awesome set.

Greg

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Dec 17, 2018 16:12:35   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
gwr wrote:
Nice shots. Even though I love Crows, I'm rooting for the hawk. Gary


Thank you, one person a few miles from me put a post on FB about a young hawk that has been trying to make a kill at her feeders sounding like it is "crying" it is so hungry, she hasn't seen it make a kill for several days. Most people don't know that a certain % of young raptors never learn to be good hunters and die of starvation or disease from being too weak to resist.

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Dec 17, 2018 16:14:17   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
kpmac wrote:
Excellent set. It's nice to have such a variety to photograph.


Thanks
The variety gets bigger when the hawk isn't around, or the crows, they steal all the peanuts that are to attract the jays and Acorn Woodpeckers.

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Dec 17, 2018 16:19:01   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
CLF wrote:
Jerry, an excellent story told with words and photos. An awesome set.

Greg


thank you very much
Being a history/geography teacher I like having picture essays tell a story. Sometimes I can get them all at once, sometimes I have to put images from different times and even places together to get a story. Since modern kids are so used to TV and other images I used to make up picture sets of history. I still have boxed sets of slides and a few slide trays filled with some I put together the last few years I was teaching before I retired. (and the projector)

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