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Accipiter cooperii
Immature Cooper's Hawk (first year?) stalking a squirrel for breakfast. The hawk needs more practice as the squirrel repeatedly avoided its attacks.
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. Mixed deciduous forest at edge of wetland.
4 Comments
Nice series and great spotting Bob!
Bob and Rob, I suggest you add your spottings to the "Raptors of North America" mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8627... I'm confused by your directions, Bob -- probably my fault for being such a blockhead! I suggest we continue the discussion offline. E-mail: wsanford@wsanford.com (as in Walter Sanford)
Geodialist, On the Monday morning bird counts we have seen a Cooper's Hawk about one out of three times this year including the past four Mondays. They are usually spotted from the tower flying or perched along the south edge of the main wetlands and sometimes along Barnyard Run. This spotting was just into the forest as you exit the boardwalk heading south to the tower. The hawk was trying to get a squirrel in a downed tree/brush pile on the left just as you enter the woods. I have not seen the hawk there before. It was quite a show. The hawk was very aggressive but the squirrel seemed quite casual about the whole affair, just moving to the opposite side of the tree each time the hawk attacked. I wish I had it on video. I was only about ten yards away and the hawk completely ignored me in his futile quest for the squirrel.
Good eye, Bob! I have never seen a Cooper's Hawk at HMP. Have you seen the bird more than once near the same location?