Charlie Fineran’s Photo of the Week is looking for an opportunity. This Cooper’s Hawk is on the Hunt! Perched on a wire overlooking a long line of bushes, which have many small birds seeking cover amid the branches, is the perfect place for this predator to scan the scene for the right meal. 

What really strikes me looking at this photo,  “LOOK AT THOSE EYES!!!!”  I would not want to be on the other end of his sightline!!!  Words such as FOCUS & INTENSITY jump into my thoughts, this bird is on a mission!!!!  The scenario of this photo was repeated over and over as this hawk used the wires as launching sites throughout his hunt.

Working on my computer and look out my front window, looks like a hawk sitting on the power lines. Suddenly he dives down and lands atop my neighbors bushes, which forms a long line across his front yard and is about seven feet tall. The hawk then literally is hopping down through the branches chasing small birds amid the branches!! I get my camera and try to photograph the action but my windows prevent any decent shots! The hawk then flies to the right out of my vision. Run through my kitchen and go out onto my deck, where I notice the hawk sitting in the tree. Must be quiet and deliberate in my actions don’t want to scare him off!! Get some photos and then take my first video which shows him returning to the hunt by the bushes. Slowly, walk down the stairs and begin working my way to the front of my house, all the while staying against the house and in the shadow of the house, trying not to scare off the hawk. The remainder of the videos depict the hawk using the wires as a launch area, then diving down into the neighbor’s yard chasing the small birds or landing atop the bushes then working his way through the branches looking for or chasing prey. Alas, for the hawk, his perseverance and efforts did not succeed!!

NOTE:  LISTEN, while watching the videos and notice how the chirping of the ‘HUNTED’ fuels, ignites and further agitates the ‘HUNTER’

Please visit my Flickr site for the photos and videos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157673573065927

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran