The soaking wet broad-winged hawk

The rain isn’t giving us a break over here in northern Washington County and I don’t do well with being housebound. “Want to go for a ride,” I asked Steve and Taylor. We rode out to Loon Bay on the St. Croix. I hoped to see moose but we didn’t. We stopped along the way so I could take pictures. I glanced up into the trees just before we passed this soaking wet immature broad-winged hawk.

broad-winged hawk 5This immature hawk is soaked to its skin. It wasn’t shivering but I can’t imagine it was very warm. The rain lets up but the sun doesn’t come out. The forecast says we won’t see the sun for another six days. I hope that changes, and I hope this hawk is hunting well enough to sustain itself.

broad-winged hawk 3Look at those talons. I was closer than usual this time. I typically stay back and push the zoom lens to its full 1200 mm. The photo quality suffers but it’s a fair trade to leave the animal unstressed. This time I was only 50 feet from the hawk because of where we were on the road when I spotted it perched on the bent over birch tree. I took a few photos and we drove on.

broad-winged hawk 4Thanks to Tammy Morris and Dennis Kerekes for confirming the identity of this hawk for me.

 

Robin Follette

About Robin Follette

Maine Press Association award winner, 2013. Robin's Outdoors, Bangor Daily News, third place in Sports blogs. I grew up with a fishing pole in my hand and have always loved the outdoors. From gardening to hunting and fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking and foraging, most of my time is spent outdoors. I teach outdoor skills as a volunteer instructor for Hooked On Fishing - Not On Drugs and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman. Pro-staff at The Limb Grip. My personal blog is here. I'm currently working on my first book, a collection of short stories based on my outdoors experiences.