There was almost complete cloud cover this morning, but the clouds were very thin and very high, so there was good light for photography. Temperatures were right at the freezing mark, so it was still a bit cold, even with very little wind. There were patches of snow from a few days ago, and most of the mud on the trails was frozen, so that was good. There was plently of avian activity. Birds were out foraging in the calm air, and perhaps fueling up ahead of the heavy snow forecasted for tommorrow.
For the past few years, I have been exceptionally lucky to get close-up photos of cooperative, juvenile Cooper's Hawks, and mostly here in Old Trail. But getting good photos of adult Cooper's Hawks has been a challenge. Either these adult hawks have been perched far away, and usually backlit, or I had been limited to a few shots of flying adults. I started my hike on the trail along the golf course pond just off of Golf Drive. There are a few bird feeders there, but the birds at the feeders quickly dispersed. I looked up and saw an adult Cooper's Hawk on one of the roof tops, and it flew down towards the feeders.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
The Cooper's Hawk landed on a garden table, and waited to see if any small birds would appear.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Not seeing any little birds, the hawk took off.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
But rather than flying away, it landed on the ground to hide, and waited for feeder birds to return. It then popped up onto a planter box for a better look.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
I thought it was going to leave, but it flew up to another perch on the garden table.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Once again, I thought it was going to leave, but this Cooper's Hawk wasn't giving up yet.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
It finally flew away, but not before I was able to take photos of this magnificent adult Cooper's Hawk for five minutes.
I continued on my hike, and ended up with 32 avian species this morning. Noticeably missing were Eastern Bluebirds and Turkey/Black Vultures.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Field Sparrows
Winter Wren
This morning's list:
Canada Goose
Pied-billed Grebe
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow