On Monday the High Country sparkles with the promise of impending snow...
Sycamore Canyon Neighborhood 7:03 AM
...which fell soft and silent in the wee hours of Tuesday morning...
Birds at feeder 7:12 AM
...bringing dozens of feathered pilgrims to the bird seed cafe...
Cooper's hawk 7:30 AM
...until this phantom appeared, dropping like a bullet from the misty sky, a ghost with talons looking for prey...
...but dinner was not served for him at the bird seed cafe...
Goldfinches 12:22 PM
...but dinner was not served for him at the bird seed cafe...
Goldfinches 12:22 PM ...and as the morning sun grew stonger and the sounds of dripping filled the air the birds returned to feeding...
Birds at feeder 3:20 PM
...and all memory of the hunter melted with the snow.
Birds at feeder 3:20 PM...and all memory of the hunter melted with the snow.
Visit Skywatch Friday for more amazing skies!
(click on any image to enlarge for the best view)
Photography courtesty of Kathie Brown with the Nikon D80 and the 70 to 300 mm lens.
Beautiful series of photos!
ReplyDeleteLove the Cooper's hawk!
Wonderful photos. Love the first sky picture, the picutre of the hawk and the one with the goldfinch flying.
ReplyDeleteDelightful story and pictures! Love your ending, "...and all memory of the hunter melted with the snow."
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL Coop pix!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it when a Cooper sits close enough to get good shots like you did. He sure is hunting for a meal. Beautiful hawk!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, lovely, life giving snow! And a beauty of a Cooper's there. Great photos, as always.
ReplyDeleteThat Cooper's looks rather nonplussed by the snow! Great shot!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post, as always. Great captures and prose. The hawk is awesome to see, but I'm glad it went away hungry at your cafe.
ReplyDeletethose clouds above the neighborhood look really threatening! Come to think, so does the hawk.
ReplyDeleteWOW you guys got snow! I must say I am sick of the stuff and more than ready for Summer. I love all of you photo's they are always so amazing
ReplyDeleteKathie great photo's. That hawk is a beautiful bird. Thats neat you were able to get a picture of him.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Kathie!! Especially enjoyed the sky with the blue mountains and the hawk!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, I especially like the second one with the storm clouds. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Loved the hawk pics. Great ones!
ReplyDeleteKathie, I must reiterate what Diane stated. As I read your post and looked at your beautiful photos (great sky, awesome Cooper's captures) I was captivated by the story and the last line is perfect.
ReplyDeleteWell done! Thanks for sharing.
Those images of the Cooper's Hawk are beautiful with crisp feather details. WOW...Thomas
ReplyDeleteThis is the way it should be. Beautiful quiet snow, which melts after you've taken pictures of it. And hawks that come to pose right outside your window. You are living a charmed life, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI like the sequence of the hawk looking from side to side. It really gives the feeling of his command of the situation!
ReplyDeleteAnd so glad for your snow--enjoy!
Wonderful hawk series. I've never been in Tucson when the snow level was that low- cool pictures!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your tale as much as the wonderful images you captured!
ReplyDeletewhat great hawk photos! And beautiful blue mountains in the first picture.
ReplyDeleteKathie your photos always take my breath away, enjoy your bit of snow, it looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI like your Coopers Hawk photos.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you and to your family from me and Patty.
Abraham Lincoln
Brookville Daily Photo
Great hawk photos, Kathie. They are beautiful birds, but they can clear the yard out very quickly.
ReplyDeleteWow! What great photo's, Ive just found your site, because of the Feb. bird count. I'll be back from time to time. Count me as a follower!!!
ReplyDeleteoh goodness! I would die to get pictures like those of the hawk! Amazing beautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteIncredible series of photos. Kathie, I have been seeing hawks all over the place this weekend. They look like a Gyrofalcon but am not sure. Very frustrating because they're always on telephone wires near heavy traffic. I looked all over the woods to see what birdlife I could get but not one bird, and then coming home, one after the other all sitting on wires or or high tree limbs very near to the main roads where it was impossible to stop to take photos.
ReplyDelete