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I was so surprised to find this in the garden this afternoon. He's young -- probably hatched this year.

We live in the city -- with concrete and close neighbors and although there are trees, there really isn't anywhere to soar!

I am wondering if he increased his range because of the drought conditions leaving his food supply scarce and he thought perhaps the fat songbirds that frequent Linderhof's yard would be a good meal!

We haven't seen any birds since he came (and left) but we'll see if they come back tomorrow.

I must admit that I've never seen a hawk in the wild so up close and personal!

BTW, does anyone know what kind he is?

Martha

How cool!!! My mom is in the middle of the city and she has seen deer in her backyard this summer!!! I ask her where they're coming from because the metro park is still 4 or 5 miles away....

btw - i love your statue!

Well what a special visitor! I'm no bird expert (to say the least) but it could be a coopers hawk or a type of falcon. Thought at first it was a peregrine but I think those are darker - even the young.

Love how the statuary is looking over his shoulder as if to say "Hello".

Picture is off the internet because I was startled by one on my table by the back sliders off my Den. Ours was an Osprey, they are like Hawks in that they hunt small prey. This one and a group of Turkey Vultures have been flying around the preserve in the back of our house, they swoop over the yard often.

Ours looked like a 20 lb turkey size, but then he gets fed well with all the little critters around here.

That's quite a surprise. I love that you were able to snap a photo.

Amazing! So beautiful.

I wonder if the bird could be sick, as wild birds that are sick sometimes come near humans. Or maybe it is tame and has escaped. But what do I know. Only what I have heard my brother talk about. He trains falcons for people who use them for hunting etc. I have been around his falcons quite a bit, and I would say this bird is unusually close to your home, and humans.

Oh, and another note...if you have a small dog, or cat or other small animals keep them under watch or even inside for a while. They could be prey, if you know what I mean. And it can happen fast.

cocok,
Yes, our squirrels get pretty chubby around here, and the Osprey picks them up with no problems!
We saw one trying to pick up an Armadillo, but the little thing kept going into a ball till the bird gave up.
Our geckos are mating right now and they flash their orange fans under their chins, those can be spotted a distance so the Osprey has been snacking all day chasing those little critters.

We were inside and I don't think he was sick. And we weren't that close.

But he was young and sometimes the young are a little braver than the old -- (we see this with out songbirds).

And yes, I think he may have been looking for birds.

We do have a corgi but he's "hefty" so I'm not worried about the dog and the hawk!

Martha