Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on March 06, 2012, 08:01:35 AM

Title: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Rob'in'To on March 06, 2012, 08:01:35 AM

A crazy brief moment yesterday morning.  I am sitting at the computer and I hear a RWBB making some angry bird noises.  I look out the kitchen window and notice a small Hawk on the grass in my neighbour's yard.  It's eating something and I see no feathers so I assume that it's probably a field mouse.  I run into the living room to get my camera and ponder sneaking outside for a few photos.  One last look out the kitchen window and I see a grey Squirrel doing circles around this Hawk, large circles at first and moving in closer.

I decide to stay at the window and watch, point the camera at the Hawk and see if I capture anything through the window screen and fencing.

Squirrel moving in on the Hawk.  The Hawk is "exploding" itself here, trying to scare off the Squirrel.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/attk.jpg)

Squirrel brushes past the Hawk, just in front of him.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/attk1.jpg)

Squirrel is behind the tree now and does one final lunge at the Hawk.  Missing the Hawk.  And the Hawk finally has enough and flies away.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/attk2.jpg)

It was quite the exciting 90 seconds or so.  Once again, who needs television?

Thanks for looking!

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Rob'in'To on March 16, 2012, 08:04:30 AM

So, the Sharp-shin came back again yesterday and took out a Starling.

He had just started to de-feather it and along came another Squirrel who went "monkey crazy" (I can't say 'apes**t...   :P ) at the Hawk.  So I missed lunch with the Hawk.  And the scrap match lasted about 3 seconds as the Hawk grabbed his kill and flew off.

In my near decade of backyard birding, I have never seen it as it is here the last few weeks with the Squirrels fighting back.  Usually any Hawk comes around and they flee and cry, clinging to the sides of the trees and wait for the Hawk to leave.

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: JW Mills on March 16, 2012, 08:22:46 AM

Seeing the scrap must be quite a treat but I gotta wonder what you've been feeding the squirrels! :D

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Rob'in'To on March 16, 2012, 10:15:55 AM

Bwahahaha!

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Vince on March 26, 2012, 06:40:33 PM

I know most squirrles have engineering degrees used to steal food from bird feeders (engineers don't be insulted), but I didn't know they practiced MMA

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Rob'in'To on March 27, 2012, 12:05:07 PM

Haha @ Vince!

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: dizzy on March 31, 2012, 08:13:37 PM

I enjoyed reading your post. thanks for sharing. mike

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Axeman on April 08, 2012, 07:48:30 PM

sheesh...they're not like that in the country.

Our raccoons too are much more timid / milder.

Title: Re: Squirrel vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 09, 2012, 01:08:09 PM

You know them city critters...  bad a$$.   8)