|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jan 24, 2015 16:51:45 GMT
A week or so ago, we had a hawk sitting in the trees outside the house. I have an extensive feeding area for the birds and squirrels, that includes two feeders hanging under the balcony, suet feeders in all the rhododendrons and evergreens flanking my corner condo unit, and a ground feeder area under some trees in the side yard. Since that first sighting, I've seen the swoosh of a hawk body fly by the windows, and seen the birds and squirrels go into hiding, but I've never seen the hawk up close, until today. It's snowing, with 3-7 inches forecast, so I tossed the seed and nuts under the rhododendrons, and the overhand of the house, so it's protected from the mounting snow. I was sitting on the couch watching TV, when the hawk landed outside my open door (I have a glass storm door closed), and hopped behind the rhododendron to the right of the door. I was so surprised, I went to the door to see if I'd really seen it, no camera, and it hopped back out from behind the rhododendron, stopped and looked directly at me, then flew away. I did some research online, and found a perfect picture of the raptor that's after my furry and feathered friends. It's a Northern Goshawk, and it is impressive! Yes, I could pick it out of a line up, if my wild friends start going missing, lol  I am hoping it will return long enough for me to get a picture, but if not, this is my large, feathered visitor: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Goshawk/id Once the snow has slowed, I'll get some pictures of the feeding area. Because of all the bushes, the wildlife I'm feeding has a good chance of escaping capture by the hawk, I'm happy to say |
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 24, 2015 19:31:28 GMT
What a wonderful experience love and thank you for sharing it. Before lived in Cornwall I used to holiday here and one very hot summer I saw a humming bird, virtually unheard of. Please let us know if you see him again.
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
|
Post by margaret6 on Jan 25, 2015 16:04:00 GMT
Gosh Piggles we have a few Hawks here (we're in the country) but never ever seen them as close to home as you have experienced. Impressive bird but swoop in a second and grab an innocent wee bird, quite upsetting to see. Still it's life. You would think if you put food under a bush it would be safer for the birds and animals but it just goes to show. Maybe it was really hungry or knows other birds are afraid so easy picking for food. Keep us informed, interesting story!
|
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 25, 2015 17:54:07 GMT
I was at a friend's house yesterday and we saw a peregrine falcon hovvering in the sky, it was quite a sight. Yes, lease keep us updated love.
Hugs
Jo xx
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jan 27, 2015 22:49:25 GMT
No hawk today, with all of our snow and wind. Not good hunting weather. I have been checking when all the birds suddenly leave the feeders, but haven't seen the hawk as close to the house as before.
|
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 28, 2015 18:50:40 GMT
I hope you see him again love, he is probably tucked up in his little duvet at the moment LOL!!
Hugs
Jo xx
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jan 28, 2015 20:49:25 GMT
I would love to see him again, but I also want to protect my wildlife. I dug out the snow by the family room door. I created a protected area that's big enough for even the crows to come in. Between the 33 inches of snow that fell, and the snow I shoveled out of the feeding area, they have a protective snow barrier of over a year/meter. At least 36 inches. The hawk can still land, but very carefully, and the rest of them can get away quickly. Before I cleared the snow, I was looking out the door and saw the snow moving. Then a squirrel popped up from under the snow, with a nut in his mouth. He was burrowing in the fluffy snow, getting the buried food. He was popping up all over the place, and I got a picture of him covered with snow, looking in my door |
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 29, 2015 17:57:41 GMT
I would love to see that photo piggles love, it sounds wonderful. It sounds as if you have a real haven in your garden, which is helpful to all the little ones who enter or live there.
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jan 29, 2015 20:31:49 GMT
Because the snow is so light and fluffy, and the air is getting a bit more moisture, and the snow is all throughout the rhododendrons, I'm finding holes in the snow, leading into the bushes. The birds and squirrels seem to be using them, which means they are getting to the seed and nuts I blew in there with the electric shovel. It's been very busy outside the door, in my little cleared area, and I have foot prints everywhere on top of the snow 2-4 inches of medium weight snow tomorrow, so that may pack down the powdery snow a bit. I will wait until tomorrow to put out more seed and nuts, in case it gets buried, again. |
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 30, 2015 18:14:59 GMT
Oh lovely 3piggles hun, it is great to know that they are faring so well despite the weather.
Hugs
Jo xx
|
|
|
|
Post by anaira on Jan 30, 2015 23:27:02 GMT
oooh, nice! I love hawks. Not sure I'd want to come into close contact with one though, haha. I guess he heard about all the free grub going!
|
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 31, 2015 17:55:38 GMT
I think the garden drums have been gong hun LOL!!
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jan 31, 2015 22:59:03 GMT
Anaira, I felt so lucky to be face to face with that hawk, right on the other side of the glass door. He was a bit surprised to see me standing there, but not afraid. Amazing to see him so close |
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 1, 2015 18:37:49 GMT
Wouldn't it be nice if you could get really close to him Piggles love?
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Feb 2, 2015 18:46:10 GMT
I wish I had the presence of mind to have my camera ready, but I never do. When I looked out the front door at the bobcat looking back at me, I couldn't even think straight, lol I didn't get a picture of him, either. It is interesting how much smaller the raptors seem when they aren't flying, and don't have the wing span to add to their size. He seemed a bit small, until he spread his wings and flew off! |
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Feb 11, 2015 9:05:08 GMT
Amazing to see a hawk so close - sounds fun with the squirrels and other critters tunneling in the snow too! That reminds me, I need to clean out my birdbox! We've been lucky and had blue tits nesting in there most years - fingers crossed for this year too.
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Feb 12, 2015 14:41:01 GMT
I'd love to put up some nesting boxes, but since we don't own the outside, we can't I am thinking of trying some more bird/bee/butterfly-friendly plants in my planters this spring. I think the birds mostly like the planters themselves, as they are lined with coconut fiber the birds take to make their nests |
|
I am hoping it will return long enough for me to get a picture, but if not, this is my large, feathered visitor: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Goshawk/id 
