Raptor Jackpot

On our way to visit family for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, we counted 26 red-tailed hawks in the treetops along the highway. It had to be a record. There was also one dead one beside the road. 🙁

We began the day with a visit from this one to our back yard, raising the tally to 27. I am always impressed by the patience of hawks — though I realize they have no other choice but to wait and watch for their breakfast (with discreet breaks for personal grooming).

We passed a reservoir on our hour-long ride, and I noticed some dark shapes on a limb. A stop to investigate revealed that they were juvenile eagles, and as we watched, another came in for a landing.

There are actually five eagles in the tree: 4 brown juveniles, and a single mature adult half hidden in the center of the tree. It was an amazing sight!

The young retain their dull coloration for several years. It’s interesting how ragged they look, for such regal birds.