Coopers Hawk in my back yard (St Clair and Vic Park area)

[Jaedon]

So I was shooting out my back window as usual when all of a sudden the entire flock of everything that was sitting around the feeder simply scattered and disappeared.   Within seconds I see a pigeon sized bird swoop and land below the fence line in my back neighbors yard.  I quickly ran and got my shoes on and grabbed a hoodie that I leave by the back door just in case and ran out for a look grabbing my camera along the way.  My first glimpse had him sitting in a pile of garbage behind the shed but when he heard me he swooped upwards landing on a post behind the next neighbor over's shed leaving me with the perfect shot.... although I would've preferred a better perch than a 4x4 but you take what you can get.

All shots are full frame ISO 400 1/100th at F8.

[Joe]

Great shots.  How often does a great bird disappear when you run to get your camera?  I live near High Park and have seen Red-Tailed and Sharpies (maybe Cooper's) nearby, but never land in the yard.  Maybe the birds at my feeder are not tasty.

Joe

[Jaedon]

Thanks Joe

must be the Cayenne pepper I add to the bird seed here to keep the squirrels out lol.  

On the plus side of that.. the Cardinals at my feeder are a whole heck of a lot redder and brighter coloured since I started adding it... and I get to see the acrobatic squirrels do backflips off the feeder whenever one of them makes an attempt at the seed lol.  Funniest thing on earth.  I feed the squirrels in a different corner of the yard to help keep them away also.

[Jaedon]

After looking at a few birding guides and discussing it with Napper this bird may be a Sharp Shinned hawk... I am such a novice birder that I am bound to make mistakes.  If anyone can give me feed back and let me know their opinions on this I would greatly appreciate it.


Thanks

Jay

[Ann Brokelman]

Nice shots.  Always like to look out and see a hawk. Makes my day.  Ann