Red Tail Very Efficient Hunter - Halls Road

[skyviewer]

This redtail was on the north end of halls road and was very receptive about having his picture taken while he hunted.  He literally caught two mice in front of my eyes and ate both in a span of about 20 minutes.  I'd love to post the gory pics but i'll refrain.  Interesting thing was with both mice he ripped there sides open and threw away what i figure was the bowels and intestines.  Then he pullled the head off and swallowed the body whole.  Sorry for the gory details but i have never watched one eat this up close before so i found it very interesting.
















This one was just outside of Darlington Provincial Park

[mr.sharp-photo]

that's funny - i always find the Halls Rd raptors to be shy. you were lucky.

and i'd actually really like to see the hunting pictures. while i don't love gore, i do appreciate nature. and i've only stumbled on a RTH hunting (successfully) once (it caught a snake). i think the hunting pictures are the ultimate score.

so i encourage you to post those (on a warned post, of course)

[Luv2Bird]

I agree with Yogi ... go ahead and post ... it's "nature in action" and that's why we are all watching all the time.  It's a special experience to watch them in action .. not just sitting on a branch or pole.  The shots are execellent .. keep em comin.  I was fortunate to see a Kestrel catch a vole / mouse and fly off with it to the top of a building.  Managed some shots, but not worth posting.

[Lloyd]

Great work. I enjoyed them all. I especially like the second last shot....it appears as if you're next.

[JTF]

Awesome series of pics, very nicely done.

[Moira]

Excellent series ... I've never met a co-operative one at Halls Rd. yet

[Photoman]

Outstanding shots Skyviewer, just superb!!!! Hall's road is a fantastic spot for hawks, last year I had my best RTH shoot ever. This bird was so tame with 13 phothogs around it stayed for hours hunting all day for us, took 600 shots in a span of 5 hrs.

Thanks for sharing.

Clemens

[lovetobird]

What a great session you had, I'd be happy with any one of those shots:) Really like pose on the second last one

[skyviewer]

Hey thanks everyone for the comments.  I must agree with a few of the comments, i've never met a cooperative hawk on Halls road before this one.  Maybe this one was a close cousin to the one Clemens had fun with.  If it wasn't that i had to be some place he probably would have kept on hunting for me because it was me that had to leave.  I've only met one other redtail that sat cooperatively on his perch for me but this with the hunting was a first.  I'm thinking this is a juvenile (correct me if i'm wrong).  Would that be why he was maybe less shy of me hanging around.  He hasn't developed a healthy fear yet

Thanks again everyone glad you enjoyed