Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Dinusaur on November 09, 2014, 06:59:35 PM

Title: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Dinusaur on November 09, 2014, 06:59:35 PM
After reading about yesterday's sighing of an American Bittern at Colonel Sam Smith Park I went there this morning; hoping to add another one in my lifers list. No luck finding the Bittern during my stay between 10 and 12. Some mentioned that it showed up earlier at 9 AM. However, a juvenile Copper's Hawk entertained a few of us when he tried unsuccessfully, first catching a black squirrel in the wooded section and then a Lesser Yellowlegs in the pond, north east of the parking lot. Every time he came close, the Yellowlegs would move into deeper water and the hawk didn't know what to do at that point. Here are a few shots from that entertaining episode.

1. Cooper's going after the Yellowlegs
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15566623958_dc2bea963e_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/15566623958/)

2. Another attempt
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15566619338_6d17117d91_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/15566619338/)

3. At the end it flew away into the woods.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/15566170989_79e405fd51_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/15566170989/)
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Steve Hood on November 09, 2014, 07:03:13 PM
Amazing shots.  That first one is captivating.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Brian Bailey on November 09, 2014, 07:28:32 PM
Great series! I don't think an adult would have come away empty taloned.

BB

Sent from my birdroid, using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Paul O'Toole on November 10, 2014, 05:55:53 AM
Love the action on the first shot. Smart bird to go to deep water never seen this before.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: JW Mills on November 10, 2014, 01:28:00 PM
Nice shots!
I believe it's a Greater Yellowlegs rather than a Lesser.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Dinusaur on November 10, 2014, 06:35:21 PM
Quote from: "zed"
Nice shots!
I believe it's a Greater Yellowlegs rather than a Lesser.
You are right - I looked at other pictures and it seemed right for a greater variety. Thanks for the correction.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: Rotarran on November 10, 2014, 06:56:43 PM
Great captures! Very interesting sequence of events.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: anatum on November 10, 2014, 10:17:40 PM
Super stuff here. Very nicely captured.
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: MEGHAN on November 11, 2014, 02:53:39 AM
Nice job Dinu!!

That hawk has been after that Yellowlegs for days, he was still at it again today. From 9:30am - 1pm all he did was chase that poor bird around the pond.
You nailed these shots, I tried a few times...unsuccessfully  :(
Title: Re: Hawk and the Yellowlegs
Post by: paul_reeves on November 16, 2014, 08:42:24 AM
Nice series and great shots.