Hawks Visit Our Yard

A Three-Hawk Week

Merlin

The week of November 18 was a three-hawk week for us.  We live along the river and our trees and open area often draw raptors during migration.  So what we saw that week was not particularly unusual but never-the-less, interesting and enjoyable.  

The week started with a Sharp-shinned Hawk flying rapidly through our yard checking out the bird feeders.  That scattered the doves and woodpeckers which spend most of their time around our trellis/feeder area and rock garden.  It wasn't long before the hawk returned to perch in a high ash tree overlooking the active bird area.  Needless to say, the area was very quiet. Before long the hawk  moved on to better things.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

On the 21st another fast hawk flew across the yard and landed on another ash tree slightly down river.  From that vantage point it surveyed the area.  After a 15-minute visit, it went on its way.  I wondered if it was moving down river on its migration and decided our place might provide a quick meal.  See the photo at the top of the post for a view of the Merlin.

November 21 brought our third hawk of the week.  It was late in the day and getting dark when a buteo flew across the back yard and landed in a tall oak.  I grabbed binoculars and there was not enough light to tell what it was.  The hawk moved 3 more times and at that point I had the scope set up and caught a quick glimpse as it moved yet again.  The scope captured enough light so I could see the identifying dark band across the breast.  See the photo below.  That hawk (or another Red-tailed Hawk) returned again on November 27.  

Red-tailed Hawk

Fall migration is a wonderful time to be a bird-watcher in New Brunswick.  We just never know what we are going to see.  Sightings might be really rare birds which are not normally here or they might be our regular species.  This year has been a phenomenal year for unusual species, species from very distant places.  The hurricane Dorian brought many rare species to the Maritime provinces.  

Our regular migrants are also very enjoyable to see.  I am so happy we still have sufficient good habitat for these birds to feed and occupy.  Our wildlife is a wonderful heritage and it is our responsibility to protect it by preserving their habitat, their feeding areas and stop-over areas on migration.  Some of these hawks will spend the winter here but most of them will move south.  We will miss them and look forward to their return in the spring.