As we were getting all our gear together and preparing for a photo session a couple weeks back, we noticed a visitor sitting on our back deck. Actually I was watering my flowers and never even noticed the uninvited guest peering at me from 4 feet away. When Brett yelled a minute later, I walked out to see this guy staring at me.
We have a hot tub on our back deck, and since we live on a hill we get some major wind gusts ripping through. The previous owners decide when they put the hot tub in, to also put up a wind shield behind it made of plexy glass. It does a great job of stopping the wind, but also does a great job of stopping birds. (You would think with how filthy it is, they would see it! I purposefully DO NOT clean it.) We realized after the bird sat there for a while that he most likely had hit the glass and was injured or stunned.
Brett started taking pictures and he kept getting closer, and closer, and closer. I quickly reminded him that those suckers are fast, and could jump up and claw his eyeball out if he wanted too. Then I went inside to look him up in the internet to see exactly what he was. He is a Hawk (Falcon’s I guess are endangered-I didn’t know). My kids see him flying around all the time, and earlier that same day they were outside doing hawk calls. Call me crazy, but I think this guy was swooping down to check things out. Kinda creepy. Kinda cool.
a hawk + a super-soaker gun = weird photo combo
Brett got this shot of him blinking….
So, we didn’t know what to do and he sat there like an hour and we had to leave for our shoot. We said that we would call the animal services if it was still there when we got back. Brett’s Mom was watching the kids while we were gone, and she said about 2 hours later that it just took off. We were happy he moved on.
Very interesting visitor indeed. Our first official animal photo shoot. :)
How cool is that…you look like you have a bird for a model! And the super soaker photo…I think that’s a pretty rare shot!
Memoirs of the Lost Hawk. I’ve envisioned a movie trailor.
THAT IS JUST INSANE!!! WHOA!!! :) love him!
He has such a “haughty” air of belonging – why do I have a feeling that there will be more photo opportunities with this guy? I think he’ll be back!
jesse, my mom has an INSANE, OBSESSIVE love for hawks.
we were looking through these pics and she’s absolutely in love.
could we maybe buy a print of one of these or something?
OH, AND I MISS YOU!
These are just awesome photos …
Holly – your mom might want to consider getting a canvas print of her favorites from Brett & Jess. I have one of my granddaughters that they did and it’s just awesome.
WOW! Amazing photos! I see these all the time and they are so beautiful and HUGE!
AWESOME! How close were you able to get??
I love hawk spotting! This is amazing! Has he ever visited again?