*DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF THE SIGHT OF DEAD ANIMALS MAKES YOU QUEASY*

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of crows going apesh!t in the front yard. I rarely hear crows, so I got up to investigate and spotted this big boy sitting on our lawn enjoying a meal. I never get to see mother nature in action like this here inside the DC beltway in Suburbia, USA, so I grabbed the camera.


I managed to get out on the driveway to snap some pics without scaring it off. It just sat there picking on its juicy squirrel.



I'm no bird aficionado, but it looks like some kind of hawk or falcon? Guesstimated wingspan of about 3 feet. In one pic you can see a band on its leg, so I suppose it's been surveyed before. Anybody know what species it is?

Here's what it left behind.

The pic doesn't show it all, but the entire thoracic cavity had been consumed, and part of the upper abdominal. The bird left a piece of intestine on the driveway, probably because it didn't taste as good as the heart, lungs and liver. Yummy!

After the meal was finished, he flew up and perched in the tree behind the neighbor's house. The crows kept making passes trying to harass him into leaving, but that didn't work so they eventually gave up. Perhaps the crows realized they could be next on the menu if they pissed him off enough. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" /> He sat there for about 10-15 minutes, probably digesting breakfast, before flying off.

If there is anything better than roasted hawk, its squirrel stuffed roasted hawk. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

If the hawk had not been disturbed by something, it likely would have carried away the carcass. The wing spreading is to shield the kill from other prying raptor and scavenger eyes. I watched a local red-tail hawk grab a squirrel from the trunk of a tree. However, the hawk was only slightly larger than the squirrel and could not keep it aloft.. Squirrel was dropped, I drove over it, the hawk retrieved the now roadkill and carried it to the roadside for munching.

Cool shots!!

Yeah, it was kind of obvious when he spread his wings that he was trying to conceal his meal. My dad does some birdwatching and he thinks it's an immature red-tail that probably hatched back in the spring. Evidently they do eat road-kill and are sometimes hit by vehicles. This hawk pretty much just ate the juicy organs and left the carcass though. I left it out there for him all day in case he wanted to come back for it, would have saved me the cleanup anyway. We've got plenty of critters for him to eat around here, so I guess he can afford to be picky and only eat stuff that's still warm. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Looks like a immature red tailed hawk to me..


http://www.hangingrocktower.org/birds/red-tailedCarroll1.htm

I'm glad the hawks are making a comeback, I'm sick of all the ground squirrels making all those holes.

Dang Scott those pics are great.

Very good Adam!
http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=68

We have lots of those in the area of jersey i live in(northern near ny state) and where i came from in va ,in Va wae had red tailed hawks, kestrels,and peregrin falcons.The latter are amazing seen one dive in the woods for a squirrel,and somehow at that speed was able to miss every branch and get its meal. as said glad to see them all make a comeback.

What's cool is watching them during spring migration up here; they follow the ducks north. You get to watch some good hunting action if you're near a hay field or airfield. The eagles seem to prefer cranes and geese tho'.