A Special Creature Encounter

Quite a few wonderful days have been spent in the garden here at Opulent Cottage lately! For Outdoor Wednesday, I have a special creature sighting to share with you. Last week I was out in my back yard, when I heard something overhead. Up in our 100-year-old pecan tree was a huge, spectacular red-tail hawk! I have seen them from afar, but never this close. He was about 25 feet high up in the tree, and was easily 22 or 24 inches tall, just gigantic. And simply gorgeous, a truly majestic creature.

 

Carefully and slowly, I backed away, not wanting to scare him off. Not that this intimidating bird would scare easily! I ran to get my camera, then to our bedroom window where I could be a little higher and slightly closer. We had winds of 40 mph that day, and it was difficult to get a shot without a branch blowing in the way. I took photos for nearly an hour, and came away with only these few decent shots.

 

We do have a good amount of wildlife here, for being smack dab in the middle of the city (we live only about 1 mile north of downtown Dallas). But blessed as we are with so many large, old trees, we have occasionally had large and small birds of prey visit us. We’ve had a flock of pygmy owls, and another huge raptor that I wasn’t able to identify. Of course there are the parrots, who we hope will visit us again this summer. We often have several types of unusual backyard birds, and the occasional water bird flies over, visiting from local White Rock Lake.

 

Here’s the shot of the day, when I’m certain he saw me spying on him

 

This rare experience is one that I will relish for a long, long time, for certain. I’m hopeful that this will not be the last I see of this lovely creature, as I saw him circling overhead today, very high in the sky. The beauty of his wingspan made me catch my breath again.

 

The next time you’re outside, remember – look up! You never know what you’ll see. Please stop by A Southern Daydreamer and visit Susan for Outdoor Wednesday.

Comments

[Shirley Corwin]

Every once in awhile I see one lurking over my bird feeders!!! He always gets something unless I go chase him then he'll just come back. I guess that's nature!

[Kim Nichols]

I love that last shot where he is staring back at you. Great shots!

[Eileen]

Cool sighting of the hawk! Great capture!

[Tracy]

Lucky sighting indeed! It definitely looks like he caught you spying on him! They are majestic and I occasionally see one in my area.

~ Tracy

[Carrie@ My Kinda Boring Life]

Beautiful owl!

[Sue]

Wow. I think it is amazing that he stayed long enough for you to get pictures. How exciting for you!

[Stacey]

Don't you just love seeing creatures in their habitats? We have red tails in our backyard trees pretty often. They sit and stare at our pond intently but we've never seen one try to fish. I really think they are watching for little bunnies..which there are plenty of.

I forgot about your parrots. I do hope they come back. That is so cool!

[Becky K.]

He looks very fat and happy. Must like the area near you. Glad you were able to enjoy his visit. So often when I see a great bird in the backyard either the dogs scare it or I am on my way somewhere and don't have the time to enjoy it.

Becky K.
Hospitality Lane

[Bonnie]

We have these hawks as well. I am amazed at their size! He is sitting there spying for his lunch!!

[pam]

Aren't they amazing...our families last two encounters were having the hawks fly into their cars on the highway...both times they flew off fine...unlike our cars. Mighty birds...mighty birds

[Mary]

You take such wonderful pictures. He looks huge. It's wonderful that your yard attracts so much wildlife. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary