I took an early afternoon hike on the trail. Although I only logged 20 species in a little under two hours, it was an interesting hike. As soon as I started on the downstream trail, I witnessed the beginning of some hawk wars! A Red-tailed Hawk, an adult Red-shouldered Hawk (called "Mama" in the rest of this narrative), and a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (Junior) were going at it above me, and a Common Raven and some American Crows had joined in the fun.
Red-tailed Hawk
Junior soon had enough of the harrassment, fled to a tree in the bog area, squawked his displeasure, and took off, while Mama chased the Red-tailed Hawk away.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
With the Red-tailed Hawk gone, Mama went looking for junior, calling for him as she flew.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
But Junior was nowhere to be found, and was not answering her call. Mama flew from tree top to tree top all over the downstream and Glenthorne Loop trails, calling for Junior in flight and each time she landed.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Each time Mama landed, she would call in one direction and then listen, and then turn and call in another direction and then listen.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
This went on for almost an hour. Junior did not respond. As I hiked back toward my car, I saw a hawk land atop a tree at the end of the downstream trail. My first thought was that Junior had returned. Mama circled and headed for the tree. I thought she was just going there to bawl him out for wandering off and not telling her where he was going. I couldn't tell from that distance that the hawk that had just landed was the Red-tailed.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
I wish I had been following Mama with my camera. As Mama approached the perched hawk, she extended her talons and attacked the Red-tailed. It quickly took off and flew away, keeping an eye on Mama Red-shouldered above.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
I then headed upstream as Mama sat perched on a tree limb near the downstream picnic table waiting for Junior to return. With all of this activity, most of the little birds stayed hunkered down. The highlight of the hike for me was getting some close-up photos of a juvenile Downy Woodpecker that wasn't quite sure what I was.
Juvenile Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Great Blue Heron
Today's RV Trail list (20 species):
Fox Sparrow Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Bluebird Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal Carolina Wren Great Blue Heron Downy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Crow Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Common Raven |