The Observation Deck

We've been very happy to see what appears to be a red-tailed hawk that has decided to briefly visit in our (central Lakewood) back yard in the past few days. The last time I saw one of these beauties was, oddly enough, on a grass strip at Marc's Plaza.

We don't have an image and he hasn't been spending enough time hanging out for us to grab a camera, but we're pretty sure of the ID anyway...

Aside from being in the right place at the right time to see this raptor, we've heard the neighborhood birds kicking up quite a ruckus with its appearance.

Hi,
Bunnies beware!

Over the past few years I have TWICE witnessed a hawk attacking a pigeon in mid-air.

It was a stroke of luck that I just happened to be looking out my back window when a streak if color zoomed by and I saw an explosion of white and grey feathers. A second later, the hawk was on the snowy ground picking apart the pigeon he had just caught. The snow turned red under the birds.

It was fascinating. Although I thought I'd never see that ever again, it happened once again last year, near the same spot.

I am fortunate to live near the valley and I often see some amazing natural sights.

I think we are getting a population of red-tailed hawks. I saw a similar feeding in my back yard this past fall. I also saw a small bird racing for its life with a hawk in hot pursuit while cutting through Westpark. Star Wars chase scenes had nothing on that one!

Brad Babcock wrote:I think we are getting a population of red-tailed hawks. I saw a similar feeding in my back yard this past fall. I also saw a small bird racing for its life with a hawk in hot pursuit while cutting through Westpark. Star Wars chase scenes had nothing on that one!

Maybe we can get Bill Davis or Joe McLain to jump in here. But I have photos of Coopers Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons in the city,

Bill and Joe would have more complete lists.


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Red tails are the most common hawk, but they are kinda clumsy as far as hawks go. If it's chasing a bird and the bird looked worried, it's probably not a red tail. Maybe a cooper's hawk or a sharp-shinned. Both would look rather slender and streamlined-looking in the air compared to the red tail, which is almost pigeon-shaped. Tails are longer on the cooper's and sharp-shinned, too.

Possibly a peregrine. I saw a peregrine falcon smack a pigeon out of the air down at University Circle.

I was up in Lakewood over Christmas. My son and I were doing a little steelhead fishing in the ROcky RIver. We didn't catch any fish, but we saw a bald eagle.

I went outside last week and heard three great horned owls hooting at each other. It went on for longer than I cared to be outside.

Bluebirds are scoping my yard out now.

Clumsy describes it perfectly. We didn't see it with prey, just swooping into trees. Swooping isn't very descriptive. I thought the thing was going to crash land, but it got itself together and got into a tree.

It's definately not a Peregrine. We see the one on the Hilliard bridge very regularly. They are much smaller than our visitor.

I haven't seen a bluebird in many years... must be nice.