Red Tail Hawk

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

This past weekend I was mowing (bush hoggin') an area we call the "Ragan Bottom" that was very over-grown.

It was just before noon when a Red Tail hawk flew over and perched in a tall pine tree at the edge of the hill.

The hawk sat in the tree and watched me mow back and forth hoping for a "hot meal" to come running out away from the tractor.

The hawk was still in the tree when I went to lunch.

Later that afternoon when I returned to finish mowing, the Red Tail hawk came back and perched in another pine tree at the edge of the field.

We usually hear the Red Tail hawks, but do not get and opportunity to see them "up close".

A couple of years ago, we had a very large Red Tail hawk we called "Rex".

Rex would follow me on the tractor no matter where I went to mow.

One day Rex flew down from a tree and walked around on the ground within about 30 feet of the moving tractor.

I have missed Rex and was very happy to see another Red Tail hawk take his place.

The photo below is of a young hawk that took up residence in the woods near the house.

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This hawk would "sail" across the back yard near the shop and land in a tree near the house.

Just one of life's simple pleasures.

 

glennster

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

pretty amazing how the critters learn a way to get an easy meal. i enjoy the barn swallow when i'm out bush hogging. the little characters zoom and dart all around the mower catching insects that get kicked up. sometimes my rounds get a little crooked from not paying attention to where i'm going

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

A few years ago we had an albino barn swallow flying over us while we mowed hay. Cute fellow with pink eyes.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the photos of your corn and bean crop.

Nancy and I are away from computers on the weekends and sometimes we do not get to reply to weekend posts in a timely manner.

I also enjoyed your earlier post about the skunks.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

One day while I was mowing, Rex flew dead center over the top of the tractor and landed in a tree in front of me.

The sun was to my back and I noticed a shadow getting bigger and bigger and he "buzzed" over the top of the tractor.

He later flew over and landed on top of a utility pole in the middle of the pasture and watched me mow back and forth.

He was one of the biggest hawks I have ever seen.

Every year at the State Fair of Texas, there is a Birds of Prey show.

A Red Tail hawk was part of the show and it landed on a platform near us.

We talked with the trainer and she said that the hawk was full grown.

Rex was at least 3 times larger than her hawk, but we didn't want to brag.

 

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thurlow

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

I've seen as many as 6 congregated at the last soybean field in the late Fall, waiting for the cottontails to be flushed in front of the combine. With that many hawks, they seldom missed one. I always expected to see some fights, but I guess they were too aware of the ultimate results; major injury or death to both of them; I've seen some serious bluffing, but nothing beyond that.

 

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cadet trooper

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

Here in SWOhio we are seeing more and more Red tails just a magnificent specie I just sit for several minutes watching them soar everyday one of lifes simple pleasures.Thanks for the pic.

 

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Stockdale Dave

Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

I was shredding the pasture yesterday before the rains came in and was surprised by a red tail myself. He kinda worked where I had already mowed and at the end of the cutting he flew right at me flairing back about 10 feet away from the tractor. By the time he quit descending he was probably less than 6 feet from me talons straight out at me. Scared the mess out of me as I've never seen one get that close or display any aggresive moves towards any human. My wife and Mom were in the garden and witnessed his lttle show. After I parked the tractor I saw him take 2 mice and 1 snake from the freshly cut back 5 acres. They are something to watch.

 

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jimNCal

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

I suspect 'Rex' was a Golden Eagle then.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

The most I have seen at one time was 4.

They were flying over the hay meadow where we were working.

With the screeching noise they make while flying, I am surprised that they can "sneak up" on anything.

We do like to hear and see our hawks.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

We were sitting in the den when the hawk flew through to yard and landed on the clothes line post.

It sat there for quite some time and the cats at the shop evaporated.

Nancy was able to take several pictures without it seeing her inside the house.

We like our hawks.

 

glennster

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

glad you liked the photos!! thank god my wife didnt catch the skunk and bring it in the house and try an re-hab it. she's from the city and was not exposed to wildlife much. she wants to run out in the woods and give eveything a hug.

 

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1936

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

Eagles do the same while fishing on lakes in Canada. Eagles will watch us waiting for a fish thrown back that doesn't live. Usually take back to the nest to feed they young. Once we figured out the system we would rap a few small northern and none were left long in the water.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

There have been times that I have seen several crows "get after" one of the hawks.

The crows are "flapping and yapping" for all they are worth and the hawk just sails along with an occasional aerobatic move to dodge them.

They are amazing to watch.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

Red Tails get quite thick around here in the fall during corn harvest. Pheasants don't have a chance after the corn is gone. I've seen as many as 15 pheasants killed in one afternoon while working cornstalks. I'm trying to be unbiased so don't ask me how I really feel about the damn things.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

I would never get any work done if we had eagles in our part of the country.

Beautiful creatures to watch, even if only on TV documentaries.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

A few years ago I was mowing outside my beans and "whump" a red tail hawk fell out of the sky onto the back of a rabbit a couple rows into the beans. That hawk tried and tried but with the beans in the way it couldn't lift the rabbit, so after a while it gave up and the rabbit ran off.

Gerald J.

 

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2t2@IA

Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

One time some years ago, I saw a hawk with a couple of crows "worrying" it, and some redwing blackbirds "worrying" the crows. Interesting.

 

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DR Darren

Member

• Aug 18, 2008

• #1

actually i had the same thing last friday when i was bush hogging. redtail hawk sat on a powerline transmission tower and watch everything i was doing. i scared up one vole and he didnt see it and then a rabbit. he chased teh rabbit around, but missed it and then on another pass coming back i saw him on a fence post eating a rodent. when he finished eating he was back to following me.

 

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Kirk Grau

Member

• Aug 19, 2008

• #1

We have a few around our place here. Last Spring I saw one pick a dove off our pasture fence. Missed a photo op last week, had one sitting on the fence outside my office, but when I made it outside with the camera it was just leaving. They do like to hang around when I am grooming pastures. Also have a few foxes competing for the same chow, they like to watch the excitement when pastures are groomed as well.

Have a good day,

Kirk

 

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Mike M

Well-known Member

• Aug 19, 2008

• #1

Do you have any chickens running around your place ? If so that hawk will get them ! I saw one trying to take off with one of mom's chickens once. He had to drop it to make a faster get away.

 

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ohfred

Member

• Aug 19, 2008

• #1

I have noticed in recent years that all birds seem to be less afraid of human beings, especially the Canada goose...they seem to stay on local local lakes and ponds and will hang around if you got something to eat. I have been mowing before and found a red tailed hawk getting real close to the tractor catching mice and snakes etc. Once while fishing in Canada...was a normal nice day...birds singing and doing their regular thing and then all of a sudden I noticed nothing, no chirping...just nothing. It was obvious that something had changed, so I started looking around and spotted a bald eagle soaring above the area. Must have been dinner time and none of the birds wanted to be on the menu.I don't see any swallows anymore but in 1994 they invaded the property and set up house in the back room of the shop because I had the door open in the daytime. I had to get up and open the sliding door every morning around daylight till I finally cut an opening for them to fly in and out of. They raised 4 little ones in the nest made from mud and whatever else they use...but I haven't seen them since. Guess I need to import more bugs for them to eat. I wonder if they eat these Gypsy moths that are new to the area that the government is spraying for from an airplane. ohfred-