Red-tailed hawk No. 2 enters the chat, trying to steal a Botta's pocket gopher that red-tailed hawk No. 1 caught. Pillar Point north of Half Moon Bay, California.
This is a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) who flew high over my yard several months ago. The hawk seems to be screeching while it flies.
"The Red-tailed Hawk has a thrilling, raspy scream that sounds exactly like a raptor should sound. At least, that’s what Hollywood directors seem to think. Whenever a hawk or eagle appears onscreen, no matter what species, the shrill cry on the soundtrack is almost always a Red-tailed Hawk." - allaboutbirds.org
The first picture was identified as a sharp-shinned hawk by iNaturalist. It was about the size of a kestrel and I didn't think hawks came that small! Also here's a pair of red-tailed hawks, an American kestrel, and a greater yellowlegs (per Merlin listening to it).
This red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was flying over checking out the backyard birds. The hawk hid among the vultures - quite clever. I found a puff of feathers in the yard not long before taking this photograph.
"This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather before climbing a thermal updraft into the sky." - allaboutbirds.org
Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting with my wife on the front porch of her little quilting shop. We have a couple old redwood rocking chairs. Ben and Charlie were laying on the porch watching the neighborhood.
I was fooling with my phone, I had taken a photo of some clouds and was typing in a caption, when two red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) appeared flying by right in front of me. I fumbled my phone and grabbed at my camera, but managed only this one shot, which would be a great shot if the right wing was in the frame 😢. I got a couple more pictures, but the hawks were flying away by that time ... it's just not the same.
This is Amelia, our local resident female red-tailed hawk. I've observed many hawks, but she is the only one who really looks like she loves to fly. When the wind picks up, she swoops and soars, circling all around her territory with joyful exuberance, making me smile each time I see her. 🥰