Great Blue Heron
It was a cool, crisp, and sunny morning here in Old Trail. I hiked about 1-3/4 hours here and logged 27 avian species. I started off on the loop trail and saw about a dozen species by the time I went past the golf course pond.
Great Blue Heron
I then hiked to the wetlands/marsh behind the Old Trail Lodge. I could hear one of the resident Red-shouldered Hawks in the distance. There are usually lots of sparrows near where the gravel path down to the wetlands ends, but I saw very few sparrows there. Then I saw why.
Feral Cat
As I continued on the trail in the wetlands, I did see a fair number of birds once I left the area where the feral cat was on the prowl.
White-crowned Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
And then I stopped. One of the Red-shouldered Hawks was perched at eye level near the community garden.
Red-shouldered Hawk
After taking a few photos from behind the hawk, I slowly walked about 20 feet past the hawk, turned around, and slowly walked to about 10 feet in front of this very cooperative Red-shouldered Hawk. I could almost hear it saying, "I know who you are, and know that you aren't going to hurt me." This hawk let me take as many photos of it that I wanted to. I then softly said in my mind to the hawk, "Thank you." I walked slowly past the hawk on my return, and it never even flinched. This event re-iterated what I have learned over the years of doing wildlife photography. Birds are not disturbed by cameras or photographers per se, as long as they don't feel threatened. They are disturbed by any birder, regardless of what equipment is being used, if they do feel threatened.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk