Seemingly relaxed, I can only guess that this adult Cooper’s Hawk, Astur cooperii, was content after a morning breakfast. Its presence rendered the other birds quiet for a time.
The hawk perched for some time on the fence, occasionally preening, mostly observing. A few times, its gaze focused just below where it sat, and I hoped that some curious Carolina Wren wasn’t in the hawk’s field of vision.
Eventually the Cooper’s hawk flew off, rested and ready for its next round of hunting. So it is for wildlife: survival is paramount, relaxation a rare gift.
My Gardener Says... 
Nice captures, Tina. I know they have to survive, but I am always glad when they pass through without lingering to prey around my feeders!
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I know what you mean, though I have to admit, I never mind seeing a pile of White-winged dove feathers. And European Starlings–they’re welcome to those, as well. 🙂
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Kinda like asking the cat to eat only rodents, not birds, ha!
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Yup!!
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Exactly my sentiments!
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Is this kind of hawk a familiar visitor in your neighborhood?
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Very common. We have at least 2 nesting couples, as well as one pair of Red-tailed hawks, many Eastern Screech owls, and at least one pair of Great Horned owls. I’m always gobsmacked at how much wildlife is in this area.
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Can’t say it’s surprising, given your good work in helping it along.
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We have fairly good trees in this neighborhood (they’d be happier and healthier if folks would choose better “tree trimmers’) but there are very few native plants gardens here. Lots of sterile lawns, though. I think that’s why I’m surprised at the variety and numbers of wild critters. They seem to be thriving, so I shouldn’t complain, I guess.
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I thought I didn’t have any bluejays around until this morning, when they set up the sort of hue and cry that could mean only one thing: predator! I finally spotted it, and decided it was a red-tailed hawk. It was a gorgeous thing, but I confess I was happy when it flew off — with a half-dozen bluejays in hot pursuit.
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Haha–I love to watch Bluejays chase a predator bird like that. They’re fearless, really, considering what those talons can do!!
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Did you happen to see my current post about the butterflies in Medina? The first thing I thought when I got to it was, “This is just like Tina’s place! No wonder she sees so many butterflies!” I wondered whether you’ve ever seen butterflies nectaring at the back of flowers. It reminded me of your posts about nectar robbing, although the butterflies may just be looking for any last bit of nourishment.
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You can really get some great bird shots. I haven’t seen one in a while or a pile of feathers. The birds really do become silent and still when a hawk is near. One day a squirrel was out and it hid under the car until it felt safe.
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The hawk was cooperative! Ask me if the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is letting me take photos as he zips around the garden!
I’ve seen both squirrels and woodpeckers freeze when there’s hawk nearby. I guess if I were either one of them, I’d freeze too!
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I have some Kinglets and Yellow Rumps that have arrived picking at bugs in my shrubs. Can’t get a photo either.
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Great shots of a majestic bird! We get Cooper’s Hawks here frequently, too. They are year-round inhabitants, but we seem to see them more in spring, summer, and fall. It’s so true that the dynamics change entirely when a hawk is in the garden.
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
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Same here: fall, winter, spring–they’re very active, or at least, I notice how active they are. I chuckled when you say the “dynamics” change!! And how!
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