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Red Tailed Hawk - Blog Posts
ArtFight attack for @bioluminescent-bat ~
Love drawing birds with cool hairdos 💕
I went birding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona, WI today. One highlight of the hike was all the American Tree Sparrows foraging in the tall grass around the center. This one in particular was checking me out quite a bit from various perches just off the path. (I could tell it was the same one from that little bit of something stuck to their bill.)
[ID: An American Tree Sparrow clings to a small twig. The Sparrow fills the frame, showing the details of the tan and brown streaks in its wings, broken up by two white wing bars. Its head is mostly gray with a brown eyeline cutting across a dark eye and a ruddy brown cap. It has the characteristic two-tone bill, grey above and yellow below, with a small bit of something black stuck to the lower bill. End ID]
I also got to see two distinct Red-tailed Hawks wheeling around overhead, likely looking for prey. The first one is likely immature, judging from the banded tail without much red in it, while the second one is clearly an adult.
[ID: An immature Red-tailed Hawk soars in an overcast sky. The hawk is mostly while, with brown streaks on the head and breast. the wings have flecks of brown, and the light shining through the wings and tail show thin bars. End ID]
[ID: An adult Red-tailed Hawk flies toward the camera at an angle. The hawk is mostly white with a brown head and brown edges on the outstretched wings. Its yellow legs are hanging down, showing an aluminum leg band on the left one. The tail is fanned and tawny brown, indicating that this is a mature adult. End ID]
There were also lots of Dark-eyed Juncos mixed in with the Tree Sparrows. They were generally more skittish, but I did snag this nice photo of a Junco checking the scene from the top of a bare bush.
[ID: A Dark-eyed Junco sits on a bare twig at the top of a bush, looking just to the left of straight at the camera. It is almost entirely grey, with white underparts and a pale pink beak. End ID]
I came home today after an afternoon of birding with my kid to find a Red-tailed Hawk surveying my yard from the top of the nearest utility pole. Very fortunate that I had the camera at the ready! It was mostly ignoring me, which allowed for many photos from different angles. Even so, I managed to capture just a few frames of it staring right down the lens.
I also stepped around to the front porch at a lower angle to take a couple of portraits. My sharpest pics of a Red-tailed Hawk to date!
[ID 1: A portrait of a Red-tailed Hawk staring down in my general direction. The picture shows just the head and shoulders, both light brown and streaked, as well and the upper part of the off-white chest.
ID 2: A portrait of a Red-tailed Hawk staring off the left of the frame. The picture shows just the head and shoulders, both light brown and streaked, as well and the upper part of the off-white chest.
ID 3: A Red-tailed Hawk sitting on top of a utility pole, looking straight into the camera. It appears to be a light morph, with mostly off-white feathers broken up by a band of brown speckles along the breast. It's head is mostly brown and streaked. The eyes are bright yellow and glinting in the hazy afternoon sunlight. It's standing on one large yellow foot, with long dark claws wrapped around the top of the pole. End ID]
Inktober Day 29: Injured
Added note: if you see an animal in the wild that appears to be injured, please call the closest wildlife rehabilitation center. Please do not approach or touch the animal unless they instruct you to do so. They will be able to tell you over the phone if the animal does indeed appear injured, and what the next steps to take would be. Occasionally the animals are not really injured, just exhibiting behaviors we are unfamiliar with, and are best left alone to do their thing. The wildlife centers will be able to help you discern what is going on with the animal(s) you find and whether or not they need help.