Hawks & Ducks

Hunky Husband yelled for me to "Come - quick!" When I got to the living room, he wanted me to look at a hawk that was perched on a wrought iron feeder-support staff at the edge of "my meadow". I couldn't see it because I had my computer glasses on. By the time I retrieved my driving glasses, the hawk had moved but was still in sight. It wasn't obvious to me the species we were watching (in our yard I expect it to be either a red-tailed or a sharp-shinned), so I tiptoed over to get a pair of binoculars. I still didn't have the species pegged; so I went for my camera, put the longer lens on it, and started snapping pictures.

While I was screwing around with the camera, a second hawk (just like the first) alit near the first hawk. I did not get a picture of the two together, but I did get a dozen frames (not all in focus) of one of the pair. I have tentatively identified the hawks as a species that we've not seen here, before - (see below the fold after you've decided what you think it is.) I would appreciate your opinion either confirming or denying my identification. In posting the photos I have cropped and lightened them; but, I have not changed the coloration. Colors are rather dull due to our overcast sky. The hawks were southeast of my position (I shot through the kitchen window, looking straight back into the back lot) and the sun is hidden but behind the hawks and to my left as the time was about 8:20am.

By the way: HH concluded, and I concurred, that the hawks were worming - pulling worms from the wet ground.

I eventually tired of holding the camera in readiness to catch the hawk in flight (or at least with its wings upraised) and left the scene. The hawk left, too. About an hour later, the hawk returned and stuck around for another 30 minutes or so - of which we know. Here are three photos of the hawk - the last one taken through rain.

The next photo was added at 5:15pm

Note that both hawks are in this photo. They have hung about all day!

The hawk action was in our back yard. In the front yard were three mallard ducks - two drakes and one hen.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My tentative identification of the hawk(s) is red-shouldered.

Addition of 5:15pm

I no longer consider the identification tentative. Having seen the hawks in sunlight, I'll stick with my opinion that they are red-shouldered hawks.

Comments

[bogie]

Seems like a reasonable identification to me - in fact the picture of the hawk on the ground looks exactly like a mirror image of the first picture pulled up when I google it.

I've never heard of hawks "worming", but then I Googled it and found that they still eat insects and such, so once again I learned something from you!

[Cop Car]

Bogie--You are not alone in not knowing that hawks worm. I had sent a message out to the birders of Kansas concerning the pair (who did not return this morning), writing the following:

"Two red-shouldered hawks have been hanging about our suburban back yard since about 8:00am, today, through rain and shine. They perch on various posts around our yard when they are not pulling worms out of the soft earth.
This is the first sighting for the species in our yard - a second "yard lifer" this year, following two fox sparrows that hung about during the snows."

One of the Directors of the Wichita Audubon Society replied. Here is most of our exchange, below:

Director: "I would love to see some of your photos. Worms???"

Cop Car: "...I've never seen hawks worm before either! I'm not much of a photographer, but here are two (from among about 120) shots.

"More photos (among the first 50-75 shots that I took) are posted on my blog if you would care to see those."

Director: "The hawk pulling worms from the yard is exactly what will astound some of my casual birding friends. Thanks."

As it turned out, another birder, over by the river, saw a red-shouldered hawk AND fox sparrows, yesterday (online, I find that a pair of red shouldered hawks nest in his vicinity.) His folks have a farm near the river, so he gets all sorts of goodies: painted buntings, pileated woodpeckers, etc.

[Cop Car]

I well remember my first sighting of a red-shouldered hawk - in the back bay area of Newport Beach CA. The hawk sat in a tree surveying the inlet and surrounds, obliging me by staying put while I pondered its identity. The hawks in our yard did not look like what I "remembered"!

Added 10:30am: At least one of the hawks is back in our yard.

[m.e.]

The eastern red-shouldered hawk doesn't look exactly like the California one, especially around the eyes. I thought you lived in western Kansas (shows how much I know...), and if so, that makes your visitors just that: visitors. Interesting to see whether temperature differences have an effect on birds' migratory and residential patterns. Interesting post!!

[Cop Car]

XE--HH & I live a few miles south of Wichita which is considered to be south-central KS, still somewhat outside the range shown in Sibley. However, since red-shouldered hawks are (I now know) known to nest just a couple of miles west of here, I should not have been surprised. But...I was not well-informed, so I was surprised. It is my copy of one of the Peterson Field Guides series, Hawks by William S Clark and Brian K Wheeler that put my doubts to rest. The book shows Eastern, Florida, and California versions of the hawk and mentions the Texas version.

BTW: I had put "remembered" in quotes to denote the fact that my memory was faulty.

[m.e.]

I should always put "I remember" in quotes, especially when it comes to flora & fauna. Even when I was in college (in my late teens, early 20s) I had to look every posy and bird up every year. Hasn't changed.

[Joared]

Don't recall ever seeing such colorful hawks in Ohio or So Cal. Should get my Peterson out, but no need, I guess, since you've identified. Never thought about hawks worming.

[Cop Car]

XE--I hear you!

Joared--The red-shouldered is a beautiful hawk. Only HH would have noted what they were doing. I was too wrapped up in trying to get decent photos!

[buffy]

We have a hawk (or possibly several hawks) which comes to sit in our apple tree, waiting for the perfect time to swoop down on an unsuspecting bird at the feeder. The hawks will drive birds toward the house, where the windows reflect the grove. The birds often fly into the windows and are stunned.

I've never seen a hawk on the ground here, so I had no idea they wormed. I'll have to ask D.H. what he's seen. We have Cooper's Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks. I think it's the latter that we have watched in the apple tree.

I have some decals from the Nature Conservancy that I need to put on the windows. They are tree-shaped cut outs, of a translucent plastic, that interrupt the reflection. I just saw them....where did I put them? The next time my fingers touch that packet, I'll get the ladder and put them up!