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D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

Who's That Across The Street? And What Is He Doing?
Mon Aug 03 2009

The other day in the late afternoon, I happened to step out the front door to see if Hub Man had driven up in the car, I thought I heard him and was going out to see if that was so... and I saw something in the yard across the street.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

I grabbed the camera and walked quietly in line with the tree in our front yard, so he couldn't see me and started taking pictures for all I was worth. I probably took 30 of them over the course of the next few minutes.

I kept inching closer and closer. And our wild friend didn't seem to mind so much, because he was very very busy with very very important stuff...

Eating his dinner.

Meet Mr. Hawk:


[album 65561 Hawk 069.jpg]

Now I have cropped these pictures so I wasn't THAT close to him, however I did end up standing about 15 feet away from him and he never showed a sign of leaving his meal.

I will spare you the pictures of mouse guts, besides they were a little blurry anyway. Most of the pictures were less than stellar...

[album 65561 Hawk 075.jpg]

And this is the closest one I got of him. What a beauty eh?

[album 65561 Hawk 080.jpg]

You know, I lived in the mountains most of my life. I saw a lot of wild things. But never as many up close and personal as I have seen around here. It's rather ironic don't you think?

Anyone know what kind of hawk this is?  I'm not much of a hawk expert myself.

He hung out in that front yard after finishing off his mouse and had a long drink from a puddle of irrigation run off from the yard next door and generally took a little break before heading out to wherever he spends the night.

Hub Man got to see him too because he did come home a few minutes after I took the pictures. He got out his binoculars and had a gander at him.

This place never ceases to amaze me....

9 Comments
  • From:
    Allimom (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Aug 03 2009
    Looks like a peregrine falcon:
    http://static.open.salon.com/files/peregrine-falcon1234546225.jpg

    Alli
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Aug 03 2009
    I think Peregrine Falcon also. I have seen them in Scott Valley.
  • From:
    ErmaBclone (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Aug 03 2009
    Very cool!! I have seen them flying, but never on the ground. Excellent!
  • From:
    Mamallama (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Aug 03 2009
    Very cool!

    And welcome to Classy. A real cutie, even if she is a little short on hair at the moment. At least she will be cool in the heat.
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Aug 03 2009
    Mr Hawk must have been awfully hungry to be that intent on his meal. I thought I would check out Mr Hawk, but I can't find my bird book. I'll keep looking.

    A hummingbird buzzed me a couple days ago. Then went to feed on the agapanthus. Those blooms are almost gone, and that's all that's been blooming around here. Amazing creatures those hummers.


    Bless

  • From:
    404Error (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Aug 04 2009
    I agree on the species previously mentioned. I used to watch them hunt when I lived at the mouth of Deer Creek Canyon, the place where Ishi, the last wild Indian lived. It's a pretty wild place. Tens of thousands of bats fly out of the caves every night, a day did not go by when a rattlesnake was not seen, and there were turtles in the creek. The rattlesnakes were so plentiful that I used to keep the broom beside the door so that I could sweep under the steps to make certain I wasn't going to be bitten on my way out. But other than the 115 degree summer days, and no running water or electricity, the place was pretty awesome.
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Aug 04 2009
    I did a bit of research and it appears everyone is quite right; it is the spitting image of a Peregrine Falcon.

    Way cool! You do live in an interesting neighborhood for sure and for certain.
  • From:
    Diane (Unauthenticated) (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Aug 04 2009
    WOW! That is awesome D!
  • From:
    Salted (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Aug 05 2009
    Pretty cool alright! We see eagles here occasionally, it is always a treat but of course never that close! :-)