Cooper's Hawk.

Bathing.

That was some cold water it was taking a bath in.

You got a towel Mister?

VERY nice Ray. Is this in the pond in your yard?

Yes it is.

OH...I wish I could have seen this! jo

Have you seen this guy again since he dropped in for a bath?

I havent seen one in the pond like this, but out in the wash behind the house I've seen one.
I have no idea if its the same one.
It wouldnt come when I wistled at it.

I'm wondering too if it had to do with the pump being off.
Water was still. I got the pond up and running again a couple weeks ago and I'm not sure if that will stop it from taking a dip.

I got a nice 4th of July surprise.
The hawk was back this morning and when I came out with the dogs it flew to the house across the wash from me.
My eyes were still a little blurry from just waking up and thought I was seeing things.
Rubbed the eyes a little more when they finally cleared up I wasnt seeing things.
2 hawks, not 1. The one that was in the pond this morning is on the left.
The one on the right looks to be about twice the size as the other one.
Do the males/females have that much of a size difference or is the one on the left a juvenile?
Sorry for the crappy picture, the zoom on my little camera isnt the greatest.

What a great surprise!!!

Well, a visit from the hawk is ALMOST as good as a Golden Eagle on Independence Day! What a gift! Glad you got the pic, Ray! And, SusieBird_Lady would know best but I think the diff between males and females is distinct.
Happy Independence Day!

I had my visitors again today and I'm thinking that the smaller one is a juvenile.
I went out back and found the smaller one sitting on the wall right above the top of the waterfall.

I was more than surprised at how close it let me get before hopping down the wall two houses away.
Its feet were getting hot while standing on the wall and kept switching feet.
I was starting to get worried that there was something wrong with it because it wasnt flying away.

I went around the other side of the pond to get to the compost pile and I was shocked when I saw this.
This is the larger hawk and it was looking at my fish like they might make a good dinner.
So this is why the other one wouldn't fly away.
I'm no hawk expert but is this momma or pappa?

Come here little fishy.

After a while it got tired of me watching it and taking pictures so it hopped up on the wall and ran down to the smaller one that was waiting it.

It has probably been munching on your smaller fishies and knows that the cafe at your house is open for business and after the meal it can take a bath!

He probably had promised her a dinner out and was looking for the best fish to present to her!

A little Pescatore alfresco. :-)

After watching these two for the last couple days it is very apparent the smaller one is a juvenile.
You think its silly watching juvenile sparrows harassing their mama's and papa's for a meal?
You should see a juvenile hawk that stands about 12" tall do this.
And its squawking isn't real quiet either. LOL
They have been hanging out by the pond and in a mesquite tree next to the house.
Pretty fun to watch the interaction between these two.