Showing posts with label Cooper's Hawk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooper's Hawk. Show all posts
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Monday, December 19, 2022
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Saturday, September 11, 2021
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018
Birds of Fall, Migration, and Falconry Birds
Juvenile Carolina Chickadee
Ditto, View 2
Both Juvenile Males Fighting
Ditto, View 2
One Carolina Chickadee Recovering
From the Battle
From the Battle
Immature Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile American Kestrel
Juvenile Northern Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Juvenile Northern Cardinal
Lincoln's Sparrow
Brown Thrasher
09-15 through 09-30-18
This material is the second half of September, which started out with an interesting chain of events with juvenile Carolina Chickadees. The group came to Heron Cove while I was there, comprised of two males and two females, possibly a family unit.
The males were both singing on their perches, then began fighting on the ground. It appeared that the juvenile males were feeling their oats and showing off. Getting closer to them for photos netted these
and it appeared necessary to end the battle, as it lasted between five and ten minutes. It was feared that one was going to kill the other bird. One bird was photographed tending to his soaking wet disheveled state.
On 09-22, a group of us went to a get together for hawk trapping at Great Salt Plains State Park and these were some of the beautiful falconry birds on display. One of the Red-tails had been caught, along with a couple of Peregrine Falcons that were not there on that date.
We finished up with the earlier photos, which included a late hatch Northern Cardinal. There is at least one more in a second nest. Later discovered was the Lincoln's Sparrow pictured above and a lovely Brown Thrasher.
This material is the second half of September, which started out with an interesting chain of events with juvenile Carolina Chickadees. The group came to Heron Cove while I was there, comprised of two males and two females, possibly a family unit.
The males were both singing on their perches, then began fighting on the ground. It appeared that the juvenile males were feeling their oats and showing off. Getting closer to them for photos netted these
and it appeared necessary to end the battle, as it lasted between five and ten minutes. It was feared that one was going to kill the other bird. One bird was photographed tending to his soaking wet disheveled state.
On 09-22, a group of us went to a get together for hawk trapping at Great Salt Plains State Park and these were some of the beautiful falconry birds on display. One of the Red-tails had been caught, along with a couple of Peregrine Falcons that were not there on that date.
We finished up with the earlier photos, which included a late hatch Northern Cardinal. There is at least one more in a second nest. Later discovered was the Lincoln's Sparrow pictured above and a lovely Brown Thrasher.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Cooper's Hawk
Peak migration for hawks is usually in late September, so now is the time to brush up on your ID skills. You will be comparing species that could be side by side, and you could see a dozen or two every minute. The largest conflict is between Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, and the jury could still be out on those sightings.
The adult Cooper's hawk will be wearing a dark cap and will have a paler nape. It also has white undertail coverts conspicuously displayed in flight, and since the Northern Goshawk is not seen in Oklahoma with any regularity, you will have a Cooper's. It is also best to focus on the rounded tail shape and long length. Their flight is a flap, flap, glide, not constant flapping. Also observe head size and the leading edge of the wing. An adult male Coop will also have gray cheeks. They will also be more apt to be found on a fencepost than a Sharpie.
Adult Cooper's Hawk
Boomer Lake Park
As an accipiter, they have relatively short rounded wings and long tails. They are bird and small mammal eaters, and they could be found in your front yard or the deep woods. They can pour on the speed or they can glide into your feeders with very little warning. If you hear a bang on your front storm door and find a dead bird, the culprit is likely the Cooper's Hawk. Wingbeats are also choppy and stiff.
The two age classes are adult and juvenile, or first year. The first year is buff-white with thin, chocolate streaks and could be found only on the breast or upper belly.
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Flying Off with Gull
Boomer Lake Park
We all know that the hen hawk is larger than the Sharpie, but you must not rely on size, because they are rarely side by side. Know the other characteristics that have been outlined with practice, and you'll not go wrong.
A breeder of the mature forest, nests are in large deciduous trees at the crotch or next to a trunk in a coniferous tree. The chicken hawk prefers deciduous trees in many cases.
Cooper's Hawk
Liana Winters Smith
Single brooders from April through July in Oklahoma, the male selects the nest site, and builds most of the structure. He remains attentive to her needs from courtship through the nestling process. Young birds fledge after a little more than a month, and they remain dependent for another month.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
January's Birds of Boomer
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Adult Cooper's Hawk
Northern Mockingbird
Female Belted Kingfisher
Brown Creeper
Northern Cardinal
on bradford pear tree
Red-shouldered Hawk
Ring-necked Duck
January 2018
The weather was very unsettled and very dry this month. However, there were a few warmer
and springlike days where there was a little action.
The White-fronted Goose was on Boomer Creek just off Goose Island with a Canada Goose pal, and there appeared to be more Cackling Geese than usual for the month, even though there was so little
cold weather. There lake barely froze this winter.
This also means that it is highly likely that with unseasonable weather there will be a greater amount of feeder bird illness this winter. This will bear watching and most likely a lot of feeder cleaning and seed changing to keep up with this problem.
Hawks have been visiting the area frequently, so there could be a need to stop feeding for a period of time, as songbirds could easily fall victim to a swift and hungry hawk.
A few ducks have been visiting with us on and off, for they prefer colder weather.
Many songbirds seem to be affected by the springlike weather that has been with us. Will we have an early spring with early birds? Time will tell, but it appears rather probably. Now all we need is a few
good rains to give us a good crop of spring fruit.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
A Little Action Between the Purple Martins and a Cooper's Hawk
American White Pelicans
Cooper's Hawk
Brown Thrasher
Neotropic Cormorants
Harris's Sparrow
American White Pelicans
03-20 to 04-01-17
Quite a storm came in several days ago and with it, came a number of water birds and shore
birds, all distributed in a number of areas in Payne County. Some of them are still hanging on
and it is POSSIBLE that we might be in for another storm tonight. We shall see, as we don't
always get the bad weather since we are in a valley.
The pelican population has been growing since the storm. All of these beautiful birds appear
to be in breeding plumage, but I have not been able to see all their lovely faces. Some have
managed to sleep during some tumultuous Canada Goose uproars.
We could have more than seven Purple Martins on the east side of Boomer Lake, but it seems
that many of these birds have been exhibiting more kingbird behavior than their usual manners.
Some of their houses had been infiltrated by European Starlings and House Sparrows. They
have graciously allowed these birds to stay, but they forced their way in to their settlements.
What few of the martins there are, they are also patrolling an additional house, so they each
have two homes. Imagine that!
Now here's the kicker (sorry). The house across from Kicker (Stillwater Designs), has been the most active and the most watched by a Cooper's Hawk. Yesterday, I had a group of four martins over my head carrying on, and they were following me. A quarter of a mile later, I found out why, as you can see in the above photo. Their home was being used as a lookout post by this Cooper's Hawk, who didn't like the fact that I was photographing his transgression. The hawk then settled in the trees west of the martin house, whom I again photographed on my return trip from Boomer Creek. He then flew across the lake and the martins returned home from where they were sitting on the electric wires just east of their home.
Today, our brave heroes were in hot pursuit of the Cooper's Hawk, which I noticed upon my return
from Boomer Creek. These birds are relentless and apparently, fear very little.
The Brown Thrasher was my first of year bird a couple of days ago, and now there are two.
These three Neotropic Cormorants were from last month, and they were conveniently all seated together.
Tomorrow, I will see you in the paper with Life at Boomer Lake. Happy birding!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Red-breasted Mergansers and Hawks Visit Boomer Lake
Red-breasted Merganser males
in breeding plumage
Red-breasted Merganser
Ditto on Species
Pied-billed Grebe
Canada Geese
Mourning Dove
Juvenal Cooper's Hawk
Juvenal Red-tailed Hawk
Ditto
Ditto
Male Buffleheads
February to early March 2017
These are the highlights of the month, and I am proud to feature the male Red-breasted Merganser
in breeding plumage. This is a common water bird found in winter in Oklahoma, but to see the male in its gorgeous breeding plumage was a first for me. A single male was first seen March 2 and the two males were seen the day after. They were gone after that, but not until they gave me several wonderful photo ops.
Even though these birds are less common on inland lakes, they do tend to show themselves on Boomer Lake upon occasion. Even though they summer in Canada, it was nice to be able to get shots of these two in high breeding plumage with their black, shaggy crests, thin red bill and dark breast.
A young Cooper's Hawk (juvenal or juvenile bird) also came to Heron Cove where I captured the likeness of a similar bird almost in the same vicinity drinking water in the winter. Cooper's Hawks are in the eastern part of the state year round, but they tend to be uncommon. There will tend to avail themselves on an open perch, though.
Winter is never complete without the tiny Bufflehead, which means Buffalo Head. These classic
little ducks are easy to identify with the male's large head and the female's classic chocolate color with oval white patched head.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
A Wide Range of Offerings For All to Enjoy
Cooper's Hawk
Great Egret
European Starling
Blue Jay
Eastern Kingbird
Ditto
Blue Jay
Very Thin Juvenile Blue Jay with Brown Thrasher
Juvenile Blue Jay
Juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Great Egret in Flight
Great Egret with Crawdad
Close Up
Great Egret
Ditto, In Flight
Ditto
Great Egret
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Chickadee
Male Northern Cardinal
Great Egret on 09-12-14
8 Cattle Egrets on 09-12-14
0730-1230/Mostly Cloudy/10-15 mph winds
It has been quite a while since I've been out, as you can see. Fall Migration is underway and the
hawks are also visiting the lake during the mornings. They should also be out later in the day, too.
Plenty of Yellow Warblers and the American Goldfinch are enjoying the fall offerings at the lake,
nyjer(thistle), as well as plenty of sunflower seeds and nectar, too. There are young Red-bellied woodpeckers, which are preceded by their calls. Get out and enjoy!
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