Red-shouldered Hawk

 A December visitor to the backyard. The Red-shouldered as well as the Sharp-shinned have enjoyed this Cedar pile under our Red Maple Tree.

Hawks

 As a Birder, I put off learning to identify Hawks. I thought they were always so high flying it would seem impossible to get identifying marks in your binoculars .  Time has passed and I do consider myself better equipped with more knowledge for their identification. These birds of prey have become fascinating to me. For one reason or another I seem to be in the right place to see them and I am becoming better at identifying the ones in my area. The Red-tailed Hawk is seen often in the open fields and trees near our home. They are probably the most common Hawk we see.  In the winter we see Cooper's and Sharp-shined passing through the backyard sending all our song and small birds rushing for cover. The  Red-tailed are ones we see almost everyday as we pass acreage on our way to our new property. We find that they are usually sitting too far off the road or most often we do not have our camera! On this afternoon my husband pulled off the road and I shot a few ......Photos. Blessings!