Sunday, August 18, 2013

Hunting female August 17, 2013

Over the past week I have seen the Adult female Cooper Hawk hunting pigeons at my house. She has successfully taken two right out of the front yard. Amazing to watch her hunt. I have not seen the juveniles for some time.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Cooper Hawk Juveniles flying and calling August 5, 2013

I went out for a coffee and stopped to see if there was any activity at the Cooper Hawk nest area. I expected nothing so I was very pleased to see three juveniles flying all over the lower woods. I heard them calling on my arrival and saw one swoop down to the bottom of the hill. I watched with amazement as they flew so effortless. Back and forth they flew. By the time I got to the bottom of the hill they were placed on a dead tree calling. Two in the one tree and one calling deeper in the woods. The one female was so large at first I thought it was the female but the eye is still pale. They have turned into beautiful juveniles. What a thrill to see them again. Each time is a thrill. Soon they will soar over Rosetta Hawk Watch on their migration south.

Friday, August 2, 2013

About the Cooper Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Size - American Crow 17 inches or 43 cm. Wingspan - 28 inches or 71 cm. Food of choice - Doves, pigeons, squirrels. Adult features Red eyes Male - bluish gray back Female - brownish gray back Call - kak-kak-kak-kak-kak

Last sighting of the Cooper Hawks Juvenile in the woods July 28, 2013

The Cooper Hawks have moved on and deeper in the woods. The other day while sitting outside I heard a juvenile Cooper Hawk crying in the big trees behind my house. I could not find them but they are close. Yesterday I saw the adult hunting in the back yard. Soon they will be migrating south. I was very fortunate to be able to watch the Cooper Hawk family this year. Thanks to Ed and his wife who allowed me permission to go on their property. Enjoy all the photos and notice the change in the feathers.

Juvenile female with food July 22, 2013

Saw only one hawk today. The female is no longer being seen or heard in the woods. The juveniles when I see them have food. Here is one female eating on their favourite branch.

Juveniles have moved further east in the woods July 21, 2013

I have gone to see if I can find the juveniles over the past few days. No sign of them. I can hear them but they are now very deep in the woods. Today I was lucky enough to see three juveniles handing out in the yard to the east of the woods. Only for a moment then they were gone. The feathers are getting darker each day and their flight is amazing.

All five Cooper Hawks seen today July 17, 2013

During the heat wave it was nice to see all the Cooper Hawks in the woods. One juvenile was on the ground as I saw him trying to fly. He had a huge meal on the ground. He gave up trying to fly and started to eat. A second juvenile came in with food as well. The third and fourth juveniles were just sitting on a branch. The Female was sitting in the tallest tree just watching all four of them. I could see all five by doing a 360 degree turn. Very cool.