Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Cooper's Hawk


My favorite thing about snow is that it brings the birds to the feeders! I remove my swing during the winter and use the frame for a bird feeding station. I have it placed right at the edge of the patio for up close and personal viewing for me and the pets. Yesterday my visiting relatives and I were sitting at the table when this Cooper's hawk landed on the swing. What an awesome sight!



This morning when I opened the blinds, the first thing I saw was the Cooper's hawk flying right towards the window and then over the house. The are such majestic creatures!

My internet time over the last several days has been limited. My niece, her husband and one year old daughter came to visit for 10 days. During the time they were here my whole family came down with H1N1. My niece caught it too, but thankfully the baby and my nephew didn't.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week as we lead up to Christmas! It's so hard to believe that it's that time already!

26 comments:

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Oh, my heavens but he is gorgeous! What beautiful red eyes he has, and those feathers....my! You were definitely blessed by his presence, Robin. I'm sorry to hear you and your family have been so ill. Hopefully, all will be well for Christmas. Merry Christmas, Robin!

Shelinwa said...

wow this is great you are a great photographer wow. I love birds so love this. swesome!!!
Shelly

F Cameron said...

REGAL! That hawk is royalty!

Sorry to hear you've been sick (me, too).

Have fun with your family. Get well...

Happy Holidays!
Cameron

Jeanne said...

What a great picture. I never realized how pretty they are up close!
Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

How cool!

Patricia said...

So sorry to hear y'all had the flu, Robin.

That hawk and photo are GORGEOUS!!!

In the event that I don't make it back before Friday, Merry Christmas, Robin!!!!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Gorgeous pictures.I am sorry to hear about the flu hitting your home,I trust you are doing well now.
Blessings,Ruth

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Great! Great bird and great pictures! Thank you Robin! Happy Holidays to you and yours. Stay warm and healthy!

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

Wow! Nice pictures! Isn't it great when they pose for you like that. Recently the hawks have been active here. I witnessed one snatch a squirrel right out of the yard lat week. Amazing to watch! I hope everyone is feeling better. Have a Merry Christmas!

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Great pictures of the hawk Robin! Sorry to hear that so many got sick -- tough winter!
Hope all are well and you and yours have a Merry Christmas.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Darn the luck. It seems that every time my family came to visit when the kids were young someone would get sick. It is those young years it seems. At least you got to be together.

The Coopers Hawk is a handsome bird indeed. You have such great shots of it.

beckie said...

Robin, gorgeous!! What a great idea to use the swing frame-and mine is already on the edge of my patio.

Sorry to hear you were all ill. Hoping you are doing better and will be able to enjoy the holidays.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Hugs!!

Naturegirl said...

Robin great images of the Cooper Hawk! I also see them near my bird feeders and of course I must act like the protective mamma and shoo him away! There are days when I'm not home and the Cooper does what he intends if you know what I mean.
My sweet hubby cleans up the feathers before I see it..the circle of life..it just has to be that way.

Your continued encouragement as I battle my cancer has meant a whole lot to me Robin.
May you delight in the season of JOY!
Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year to you!
love and light Anna xo

Moonstone Gardens said...

Summer before last we had a nest of 3 baby cooper's hawks in our neighborhood. They were wonderful to watch as they grew up.
Hope you are all healthy by Christmas.
Cheers, Cindee
PS - Great Blog

Gail said...

Robin, The hawk is beautiful! I am so glad you were able to get these great shots! So sorry you were ill~it seems to be everywhere these days! Have a happy and joyous Christmas~~gail

Rose said...

What a majestic bird! I hope that none of the rest of your family has come down with the H1N1 and that everyone has recovered in time to celebrate the holidays.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!

Unknown said...

Such an elegant bird. I hope he leaves the songbirds alone! Robin, I wish you and your family the happiest of Christmases, and a wonderful 2010.

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Just stopping by on Christmas Eve to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a delightful New Year. Thank you for a fabulous year of beautiful photography and amazing prose, Robin!

Katiejane said...

What a great sighting and a wonderful photograph, too.

Kerri Farley said...

Great shot of the Hawk! So sorry that everyone got sick!!

RURAL said...

Robin, Merry Christmas to you also.

Jen

Kathleen said...

Good photos Robin. They really are majestic and swift as the wind. Incredible to watch even tho I don't like having them pick off the birds at my feeder too much. I have had a sharp-shinned hawk in my yard a lot lately. Hope you had a good Christmas (or are having). Also sorry to read you had the H1N1 flu. We know all too well about that around our house too.

eileeninmd said...

Great shots of the Hawk! Cool visitor. I hope everyone is feeling better now!

Mary said...

Donna, my goodness, that flu is not good. However, you made it through OK! Hoping all is well, now.

Those Coops are wonderful raptors. I have a juvie who is intense this winter. It sits over my pond, 10 feet from feeders, unlike the adult who perches far away.

Your photos are lovely (as usual).

Hugs and best wishes for you in 2010,

Mary

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

You take the most amazing bird photos. I'm sorry everyone got H1N1. It visited our house too in the early fall. Glad the little ones didn't get it though.~~Dee

Kylee Baumle said...

I have yet to see one of these in person, and I keep watching! They're gorgeous and I'm not generally a big fan of hawks.
Sorry to hear about everyone getting sick! :-(