Blackie

man, I want this bird.
I think I would call him....coal-train....or something.....amazing specimen!

 This is a gorgeous Red Shouldered Hawk (mature). He was very interested in my trap.I came to pick it up, before he could....and got this picture...love it!

This Hawk I have thrown to, and until yesterday thought it was immy.

 This is a mature Red Tail....but it was hard to really see while she was perched. The next shot, when zoomed in, shows the tail and the upper wings really well...another favorite shot! You can see the tips of the flight feathers....love it!

I really thought I had this one....this is the tree in the bottom of our pasture. I set the trap as I came up the driveway, and just drove past the barns to the trailer, and caught this shot of him from there. He flew over and landed in a nearby pine...right over the trap, then to an oak a little further away, and then he just flew off....not hungry, I guess!

 Well, these are the highlights from a long, frustrating and sometimes fun adventure in trapping...or not trapping, but trying to! I guess it pays to keep your sense of humor...it was a stressful weekend! ;)

NO Luck trapping ...but we had a few good hits...

This bird killed one of my mice yesterday....he was mature, even with the dark belly, his tail was too red!

Here are a few pictures of an adult Red Shouldered Hawk. I honestly, from the back, thought it was just a small male RTH. Until it flew down to the trap. I was trying hard not to look at it, so it would not know what I was doing. Some of these shots came out terrific! And it was very exciting. I thought he was snagged and I came to release him, and although I was very close, he didn't fly away! He sat on top of the BC and stared me down!

This is my favorite shot....it was a gorgeous bird!

 Here is a great view of the tail.

This bird was quite stubborn. It footed and footed even as I grew closer to it. It was free and instead of really clearing out...it perched atop the swingset and stared at me while I continued to take pictures.

 Here is the bird FINALLY flying away...as you can see the cupped wings...(it is low to the ground near the base of that large vine covered tree).

 And here it is in the background trees, just landing....it did not bump as we loaded back into the truck, staring it down...this little guy was hungry!

Still trapping season

....but not for long! Going to Willard today to try and snag an immy. Wish me luck, time is running short. Trapping season ends Jan. 21....let's cross our fingers!