I was running late this morning when I heard a commotion outside the bedroom window. My first thoughts were, of course, what now and what will it cost? But like the rain lilies, it was quite the pleasant surprise – a Cooper’s hawk hanging out in my chives.
There’s a family of titmouse birds living in the Surinam cherry that serves as our privacy fence. The hawk must have been chasing one home. What else would cause such an abrupt and clumsy entrance? Cooper’s hawks are known for their long graceful glide, but hunger makes me a tad crazy at times too. Afterwards, the hawk was either stalking the birds or taking a rest because he stuck around long enough for me to get my camera from the other room and take about a dozen pictures.
According to Cornell’s Project FeederWatch, this is a juvenile Cooper’s hawk because its eyes are yellow. I’ve seen hawks in the yard before, maybe the whole family is lurking…beware little titmice!
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
