Cooper’s Hawk in the birdbath!
If any of you were watching the birdfeeder cam at 1:15PM Central Time – just a few minutes ago – you saw a Cooper’s Hawk in the larger of the two bird baths. Just standing there in the middle of it. Females are larger than males and I am guessing this was a female – this was a big bird! We do have Cooper’s Hawks at our feeders occasionally in the winter months. Although these hawks are year round residents in central Illinois, we have never had one in our yard or at our feeders in spring, summer or early fall. And we have never had one in the birdbath. So keep an eye out for her. About an hour ago, a few Blue Jays, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and White-breasted Nuthatches were at the feeders eating. You can bet they will not be back for some time. No bird will come near feeders if a hawk is spied. And this Cooper’s was as obvious as she could be – no hiding and ambushing for her!
And I cannot believe I missed this wonderful opportunity to snap her photo! This is what happens so many times when any of us try to take a photo of a bird – as soon as I was ready to snap, she flew up into our trees and was hidden by branches and foiliage. Darn!!!!!