It is true: this is a bike blog, also true that I am not a particularly good birder. But, you are my only audience and so ... I sat in the 4th floor crowded waiting room of a building in a nearby city today, and while I was, well, waiting, through the corner of my eye I saw a flurry of violent commotion, perhaps 15 feet away.
Odd, it was outside the 4th floor window. Outside. No one else noticed, not even the people waiting 6 inches away, inside the window.
Being polite, quiet, and not wanting to disturb a somewhat stressed and crowded waiting room, I said nothing, didn't jump up or exclaim. But I did watch, as closely as I could. After what seemed perhaps 10 minutes, I left my seat and moved a few feet to stand and get a better angle. At that point I needed to tell the gentleman whose shoulder I was peering over, but he too stayed quiet, watching. Eventually a few others waiting noticed me, then noticed the activity, and I got out my camera.
The red tail hawk had caught a pigeon, landed on the window airconditioner, and de-feathering the bird bit by bit, ate lunch.
After a few minutes more, the hawk took notice of us, but understood he was safe and seemed not disturbed.
In my last post I promised you a few pictures from time to time, but didn't expect these.
So cool. Heck with being calm. I'd alert the whole room and cause a ruckus! It's not everyday that you are privy to a hawk eating lunch.
ReplyDeleteQuiet and inobtrusive mostly because I was concerned that a lot of activity in the waiting room would scare the bird off, ruining its lunch, and also ruining my chance to be up close and personal with a redtail. I've never watched one from so nearby before. It was verrrry cool, for me.
DeleteAh, nature, red in tooth and claw.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I was more blown away by how close it was, though lunch was added interest! Remember the two I saw one spring? Now I try to keep my camera with me.
DeleteHakuna matata. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Aaron,
DeleteGood to hear from you...and I learned your phrase hakuna matata by a google search. That red tail at that moment looked to have no worries indeed.
Sensational. You certainly managed to obey the injunction "Carpe diem." As did the hawk of course.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Thought of you while I was there watching ... you would have loved it, I think.
DeleteThat is amazing. You know, every once and a while, a hawk will float alongside of me while I ride. I'd like to think that he is simply enjoying a race, or maybe curious as to what the heck I am. But maybe he's planning something a little more sinister, like how best to defeather me!
ReplyDeleteCurious, I bet, but who knows? I'd love to take the "risk" of having a hawk float alongside ... but don't go out in pigeon costume for Halloween.....
DeleteA hawk hovers in air.
ReplyDeleteTwo white gulls float on the stream ..
Soaring with the wind, it is easy
To drop and seize
Birds who foolishly drift with the current.
--Tu Fu (713-770) ("Loneliness", Kenneth Rexroth translation)
Very nice addition, thanks for the comment.
DeleteI'm sure Tootlepedal is green with envy. You didn't even need a zoom lens to get those shots!
ReplyDeleteFor a great photo, take a look at his site, here: http://tootlepedal.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/from-east-to-west/#comment-17796
Delete