Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Do You See What I See?


Picture of the Day:  Surprise!



     I've been trying 
     to get a photograph
     of this raptor
     that hangs out 
     in a stand
     of cottonwoods
     near Piney Creek;
     but every time
     I sneak closer,
     it flies off.

     This bird is proving
     a challenge to identify
     and to capture on film!






                      Mystery Raptor and Cooper's Hawk
            
It's the size of our great horned owls,
large and grey,
with a rounded barred tail,
so I'm thinking 
it's most likely a Cooper's Hawk.

But its identification
is not the point of this post.

As I was messing with my poor shots,
look what I spied!

 Do You See What I See?


Surprise!

Down in the lower right corner 
of the photo,
I swear I see a little squirrel
half out of a hidey-hole!
And neither the raptor
nor the squirrel
appear to be paying any attention
to each other!

I'm just going to have
to get that new camera
I keep thinking about!
X29 is simply not enough zoom
for pesky raptors and frisky squirrels!

I'd like to know 
if you see what I see?
I'd hate to think I'm suffering
from an over-active imagination.

Never a dull day in my park!

34 comments:

  1. I hope the squirrel is still there when you come back! But something tells me...its gonna wind up as lunch.

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    1. Hi Laeli! The squirrel may have lucked out on the day I took its photo, because as I tried to get close enough to get a good photo of the hawk, the hawk flew off! Both hawks and squirrels can move fast, and they don't like photographers trying to sneak closer. Have a good one!

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  2. Does look like it could be a squirrel
    But its nuts to give those birds a whirl
    As chow down time
    For it would be less than sublime

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    1. Pat, you're right on!
      Before lunch This Squirrel would be gone!
      But when I stepped nearer
      to see the hawk clearer,
      it swiftly flew away,
      and the squirrel was okay.
      Yeah ~ though hawks need to eat too,
      just not in my view!

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  3. Yeah, it looks like a squirrel to me too! Get outta there, little buddy!

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    1. Hi Debra! I'd have been right back down inside that hidey-hole! Fortunately, the hawk took off the moment I stepped too close, and I was still quite a ways away ~ 50 or 60 yards. I hope that you are enjoying your Wednesday!

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  4. Never a dull day in the park makes for interesting stories! I hope that squirrel didn't become a snack...the poor thing...

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    1. Hi Martha!
      Thanks for your kind words.

      The squirrel was okay, at least for that day, since the hawk flew away.

      Sometimes predator and prey hang out together in the trees. And lots of times I've seen little birds harassing a big hawk when it comes too close to their nests. The hawk will be sitting on a branch, and every small bird in the area will be squawking at it, dive-bombing it, giving it a hard time. In close quarters the little birds can outfly and out maneuver a hawk ~ even flying in open sky they often can. It's amazing to watch. Usually the hawk gets tired of it all and flies away. Squirrels I know less about.

      Have a good one!

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  5. I see ears! I see a stick man with giant arms on the side and big ears climbing the tree to get the bird! FLY! FLY! Save yourself Mr./Mrs. Raptor!

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    1. You're so funny, Francie! Maybe it's a vulcan! Take care!

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  6. What a gorgeous bird!!! But omgosh -- that squirrel is a little too close for comfort!!

    Thank you so much for your willingness to participate in the Pink Scarf Project --- I love you so much for doing this-- your contribution will be so appreciated!!

    xoxo
    Vicki

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    Replies
    1. Hi Vicki! Thank you for your kind words! I think your Pink Scarf Project is an awesome idea. One way or another I will find a pretty pink scarf. Worse case scenario, I'll take knitting lessons! Have a good one!

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  7. The squirrel looks as though he's nibbling something ... very interesting! Perhaps they have a deal going. The squirrel may be a sort of culinary procurer - you know how squirrels chase each other up trees - and the hawk lets him live in exchange for steering other squirrels its way. (A very dark interpretation of this interesting photo.)

    We had a Cooper's Hawk once right in our yard, perched on a pine tree. (We never get hawks in our yard.) I got a few very fuzzy pictures and then it flew away. But it was pretty exciting while it lasted. And a very handsome bird. :)

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    1. Hi Sue!
      Your dark interpretation is quite funny!

      At another home that we lived in, I used to hang feeders in this young cottonwood tree in the backyard. One day I spotted a Cooper's hawk hanging out between two large feeders. While I was looking at it, some sparrows flew in to feed, and in moments the hawk had caught one. It flew to a nearby fencepost and devoured the sparrow. It was amazing to watch, even if I felt sad to see the sparrow die. That hawk had learned to hang out at the feeders to get an easy lunch!

      I'm always trying to capture birds with my point and shoot camera. I'll eventually get a clear snap of Mr. or Mrs. Cooper!

      Have a great afternoon!

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  8. Oh, I did enjoy these pictures..I have a thing for birds and hawks are my favorite. I really enjoyed these shots. If that is a squirrel I think his chances are slim if that bird decides to make a move.

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    1. Hi Truedessa!
      Thank you for stopping by and leaving a kind comment! I went over to your blog and became a follower. I so admire poets, and your words and images are lovely!

      The little squirrel got away that day because the hawk flew off as I tried to get closer for a good shot. What a surprise it was to spot the squirrel when I was trying to edit my way to a better photo!

      I love birds too! I don't know if you have seen Noushka's blog 1000-Pattes (third one from the top on my blog list to the right), but she is a magnificent photographer of mostly birds and some other wildlife! You might want to check her blog out! Her phots blow my mind!

      I look forward to enjoying your poetry!

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    2. Hi,

      I was wondering if you would consider letting me use one of your photo's for a poem I wrote about a hawk. Do you happen to have one of a red tailed hawk?

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    3. Hi Truedessa! Thank you for your request. I'm not sure I have a red-tailed hawk. Let me look through my photos and see what I can find. I will need to do it tomorrow morning. I'll get back with you! Louise

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    4. Hello,

      Please take your time no rush..if you have one I thought I could use it for my poem and post your picture giving you full credit. It was just a thought since I found your pictures inspiring.

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    5. Hi Truedessa!

      I checked out my photos, and the hawk I have a good pictures of flying and of sitting on a fence post is a Swainson's Hawk. It's similar, but definitely not a red-tailed hawk. You are welcome to use these. If you email me at mlouisebarbour@gmail.com, I can attach them and send them to you.

      Another option is to go to Wikimedia Commons. You may already be aware of this resource. It has all kinds of images you can use on an open license. You just have to credit them. I use it a lot. It has a number of good red-tailed hawk photos that might be more useful to you: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk
      When I'm going to use a photo, I double click on it, and it enlarges. Sometimes you have to experiment with your research words to find exactly what you want.

      Sometimes I go to Wikipedia which is like an encyclopedia to get information, but also for images. Here's the address for that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk Again, you can use these images and information. A double click on the photos enlarges them.

      Good luck finding exactly what you want. And thank you for your kind words about my photos. I'm just an amateur with a point and shoot camera, but I have a lot of fun with photography!

      Have a good one!

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  9. I couldn't tell what I was seeing on the lower right. It might be a squirrel.
    I'm wondering if your raptor is a juvenile Red Tail Hawk. That would explain the bars on the wings and tail.

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    1. Hi Dreaming! You're kinder than my sister, Dreaming. Barb flat out said that I was imagining things! I love my sisters! I stand by my squirrel, but I'll admit I can't be 100% sure! I'll have to check out juvenile red tail hawks. I thought it was too big, but I couldn't get close enough to see, and it was definitely grey. I'll be out hunting with my camera to see if I can get a better shot! Have a good one, Dreaming!

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  10. Try as I might I am not seing that squirrel lol. That is an AWESOME capture though of the hawk. What a beautiful creature.

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    1. Your comment gave me a good laugh, Keith! And thank you for your kind words about my photo of the hawk. I'm on the hunt to get a better shot! Not today though ~ it is raining! At least it's not snow! Snow for the mountains tonight, though! Have a great day!

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  11. Yes yes, that might be a squirrel! Or a really weird piece of wood. In either case, I would say the posture of the raptor seems to suggest that he (she) is in fact paying great attention to the thing lol! p.s. Wiggle is doing fine -- I don't think I know a more comfortable beetle.

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    1. Hi B&R! Maybe you're right about the attention! I'm not sure what a hawk's peripheral vision is ~ but I do know the squirrel got away this time because the hawk flew the moment I got closer. I'm happy to hear Wiggle is doing well! I'm sure you and Becky are treating Wiggle like royalty! Take care!

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  12. That squirrel is eternally in your debt! You saved his furry little hide.

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    1. Thanks, Terry! How about that rain storm this afternoon! Wow! I'll be down to the creek in the a.m. to see what I find! Enjoy the rest of your evening!

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  13. Too many squirrels, not enough raptors!

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    1. Hi Kay! I'm guessing you have too many squirrels in Georgia! Have a good evening!

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  14. Was the pesky varmint movin' Jose??

    If so, then yes it's squirrel's head.

    If not, then it's knot!!

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  15. Hey Ron! Do you remember the old movie Blowup? I didn't see the squirrel until I blew up my photo while editing in attempt to see the hawk more clearly! And was I surprised! I see two ears and an eye. :)

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  16. Feathers and fur are so hard to photograph - they don't stay still long enough and are always just out of reach! Good luck with your quest. I've just become a follower so I can see if you're successful! In the meantime, more photos of gorgeous Colorado will do nicely.

    Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog and for becoming a follower too. Hurry up with that decluttering so I can see what quilts you come up with :)

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  17. Hi Julie! Thank you for your kind words! I always am thrilled when someone leaves one! And even more so when someone becomes a follower! Have a good weekend!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them very much.