Cooper's Hawk eating breakfast

I haven't had a chance to do much birding this summer. I've been busy with a big home improvement project. It just seemed this week the birds were trying to get my attention. Friday, I noticed a nest of Robins, that were almost ready to fledge. I was amazed Robins still were fledging in Oct in zone 5 (central IL).

Then I noticed a Yellow bellied sapsucker working a common location in the yard.

Then I noticed this Coopers land in the neighbors tree. I orignally thought he was interested in 2 Juvie squirrels eating under the feeder. The squirrels were oblivious to him. Then I noticed he already had something and was able to get a few shots.

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Fantastic series of shots Chris!!

Again, I am jealous that your Cooper's stayed so long. We had one passing thru almost daily for a couple weeks. It thinned out the doves which we appreciate, but I would be lucky to see it and MAYBE get 1 photo before it would take off.

Thanks, I'm also aware of the challenges of getting an accipter to pose. I've been trying to get a good picture for a quite awhile. I have several that are just blurs or really dark of them sitting in trees. I'm glad this one was cooperative. Later in the day I saw another unsuccessful attack on the feeder, so it was still hungry or there is more than one in the area.

My YBSS came back this morning for a photo shoot.

Nice shots Chris!!

Nice set of the juvenile Cooper's Chris! They can be very bold sometimes. I,m sure you will get more photo opportunity's. Nice shot of the Y-bSS also.

Thanks for sharing your photos with us Chris. You did a great job with them.

Yeah, Chris... ditto thanks.

I saw a tv show, Nature, about hummingbirds. It said they nest next to Cooper's Hawks because they eat the squirrels that would eat the hummer eggs. There was much more to it than that, but that's the gist of what they said.

Linny

WOW, great shots! He (she?) has already got the bird de-feathered and de-tailed. What a sight. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Carla

Apparently he invited a friend over for dinner, here is another hawk in almost the exact same position. I think it caught a house finch this time. It was also the first time I've seen an accipter chase a bird for quite a while. They probably 4 figure eights through the trees before being caught.