Delightful Surprise 2-17-2017

Friday, February 17th I was on my way to feed like any other day. As I turn on the street that runs in
front of the horse pasture I saw a hawk in a tree. I thought about parking and trying to get pictures then but it really wasn't the right angle (I would be shooting into the sun) so I decided to go on and feed and see if I could walk to where he was while they were eating.

I get the horses started eating their grain and head to the other barn to put out hay when I see something flying low out of the corner of my eye.

It was the hawk and it was flying really low over the pasture. I watched as it perched onto of the Church roof. I had my camera already in hand. I decided the hay could wait and went after the hawk.

My experience has been they usually won't let me get very close before taking flight. I have the zoom on my camera. I get as close as I dare and begin taking pictures.

I get a little closer but he turns his head away from me.






Then he took flight soaring low like he did before and landed in a young tree. He was no more that 6
or 8 ft off the ground. I began to surmise that this was a juvenile hawk. My suspicions were confirmed when he missed a really good opportunity to get a squirrel.

It's not a real good picture but you can see the hawk in the tree and the squirrel climbing the truck!

The hawk flies and the squirrel scampers away!

It appears to me the hawk is saying "where did he go?"

He flies again.

He lands again next to the other church.

I get a little too close and he takes to the air again.

He lands on top of a utility pole behind the first church I spotted him at. The pole is part of an obstacle course they have behind the building.

Doing a little personal grooming.

Although a juvenile he is still a large bird! I was thrilled to have such an awesome opportunity.

It made me a little late for work but it was well worth it 😊

Have a good one!