Accipiter Redemption and a Sunday Sharpie Photo Session

Yesterday I shared a bit about my observations and photos of the birds of prey wintering around the south end of Utah County and the west side of Utah Lake. I expressed surprise that, despite checking some areas known to have accipiters (primarily Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks), I came up empty handed.  Click here to see yesterday's "birds of prey" experience and images.

Well...I experienced a little accipiter redemption without even leaving my yard or neighborhood today. The redemption started when I returned home from church just after noon. I was at the kitchen sink looking into the back yard when I caught a glimpse of an accipiter gliding low to the ground from the back of my yard. It swooped up and over the fence and landed in my neighbor's tree. I stopped what I was doing at the time (I'm not even sure what that was now), fetched my camera, and went out the back door only to realize the hawk was back lit from my position. I went next door and got permission to go into the neighbor's back yard so I could get the sun behind me instead of the bird. The hawk was still perched so I began a photo session with an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk. The dark crown and nape, orange colored eyes, and horizontal barring across the chest are indicative of an adult. One of my neighbor friends knew something was up when he saw me toting my camera into another neighbor's yard so he joined me. Moments later another raptor-loving friend and neighbor joined me with his camera.

We captured images of the hawk as it sat calmly in one tree and then moved over the fence to another tree. The cycle began again with getting permission from the neighbor and then capturing some images. Sharp-shinned hawks are among the raptors that actually eat other birds. They nest in our mountains here in Utah during the spring and summer, but they return to the valleys in the winter. They often hunt from a perch near yard feeders. They will patiently sit and wait for other birds to forget about their presence and return to the feeders. The "sharpy" or "sharpie" as they are often called, will then suddenly attack. Unless they get disturbed by another predator, they typically pluck the feathers and consume the insides of the chest cavity right where they capture their prey. If you've ever see a pile of feathers in your yard it was likely the result of a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk having a meal. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks look quite similar. It takes an experienced birder to distinguish between the two species.

You can click on any of the images in this post to enlarge them for a better view.

      

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

In the image below you can see that the eyelids are partially closed. I included this image for that reason. Later in the post I'll share an image and information about the third eyelid that is common to raptors--the nictitating membrane.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

The hawk was listening to and watching for other birds while it was perched. It would occasionally lift, tilt, and twist its head for a better perspective.

       

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

When I realized the hawk was not concerned with my presence I gradually moved below it to get a different perspective. This perspective accentuates the "smallish head" trait that is associated with Sharp-shinned Hawks when compared to Cooper's Hawks.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

Those are some super sharp talons. Prey generally won't escape their grasp once a grip has been employed by the Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

The image above shows the hawk taking an alert position. It was probably noticing some birds at a distance and preparing to make a move for some food. The images below continue to show the hawk in an alert position, but the first one also shows the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) covering the eye. You can see that the eye has a dull look when the membrane is covering it. Compare the first image with the second image and you'll see the difference. The nictitating membrane is translucent and moves side to side rather than up and down. It protects the eye by moistening and removing debris while still allowing visibility.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard
The Nictitating Membrane (3rd eyelid) is closed in this image, causing a blurry look to the eye.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

The hawk abruptly launched from the tree and passed over the house, down low across the street and then into another neighbor's yard. I noticed some birds taking flight, but when I relocated the hawk it was perched in another tree without prey in tow.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk Taking Flight From a Tree in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

Moments later the hawk did a short, erratic flight around another yard and then began to soar. It made several loops overhead, gaining altitude with each loop, until it broke the soar and flew northward. It was time to move on.

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk Beginning a Soar in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk Beginning a Soar in Pleasant Grove, UT Yard

I stepped out on the front porch just after 5 tonight. I was pleased to discover an adult Cooper's Hawk perched in the tree above my driveway. I was disappointed by the lack of accipiters during Saturday morning's raptor hunt. Who knew that they'd come right to my yard the very next day.