Nature In my backyard today

In my backyard today · **17 Likes**

Thie Red-Shouldered Hawk was perched on top of my feeder post on the bird house that never had any birds nesting in it, it's falling apart now but birds use it as a perch. I was in my room, and could see smaller birds looked like they were diving down at something, so I got up and opened the curtins, and there he was chowing down on a snake. The birds I saw swooping at him were Blue Jays but they couldn't chase him away from his meal.

Thanks for looking!

**Sailor** · 04-09-2019, 08:00 PM

Wow, this is a marvelous photo! I wish I could say I made this shot.

Jer

photolady95 · 04-09-2019, 08:07 PM

You recently had a marvelous shot too, Jer, I saw your Egret shots. But thanks for compliment on mine.

And I have a nesting pair that is here year round, so I have lots of opportunity to get a shot like this in my backyard even though I live in a city, small though it is, our house sits on two lots, with enough tall trees for them to be protected.

**mroeder75** · 04-09-2019, 08:51 PM

That is an amazing photo. Mowing helps reduce snakes. But, happily so do hawks.

**pichaser** · 04-10-2019, 02:37 AM

Red shouldered hawks are incredible flyers that are fun to see . Thanks for posting this great photo .

photolady95 · 04-10-2019, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by mroeder75

That is an amazing photo. Mowing helps reduce snakes. But, happily so do hawks.

Thanks for the compliment, and our yard doesn't get over grown so you can't see the ground where you walk but my oldest brother mowed the day before this happened so maybe he scared the snake out and caused the hawk to see him/her. This was not a poisonous snake though, it's Glass snake aka Glass Lizard, no legged thing.

Originally posted by pichaser

Red shouldered hawks are incredible flyers that are fun to see . Thanks for posting this great photo .

I have a pair that nests not far from the house, so I have an opportunity to get photos of them year around. You're welcome for the posting and thanks for the compliment.

mauri · 04-10-2019, 11:52 AM

Great catch! For both you and the bird!

photolady95 · 04-10-2019, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by mauri

Great catch! For both you and the bird!

Thanks.

**luftfluss** · 04-10-2019, 04:15 PM

This is super cool!!!!

**eaglem** · 04-10-2019, 08:33 PM

That is one great capture

**mroeder75** · 04-10-2019, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by photolady95

Thanks for the compliment, and our yard doesn't get over grown so you can't see the ground where you walk but my oldest brother mowed the day before this happened so maybe he scared the snake out and caused the hawk to see him/her. This was not a poisonous snake though, it's a Blue Indigo Racer.

40-years ago when I was in college I helped a landlord clean up a rental that was trashed in Iowa City The lawn was not mowed for probably 2-3 months. The grass was high. Every row I mowed the mower would ingest a black and gold striped garter snake. This was in Iowa City so the colors were appropriate. It was horrible and disgusting, and your photo reminded me of that - a hawk devouring a little snake. This is what spawned my observation about overgrown lawns, and hawks, in my reply.

photolady95 · 04-11-2019, 01:28 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

This is super cool!!!!

Thanks for the compliment, I thought so too when I saw him/her eating.

Originally posted by eaglem

That is one great capture

Thanks EM.

Originally posted by mroeder75

40-years ago when I was in college I helped a landlord clean up a rental that was trashed in Iowa City The lawn was not mowed for probably 2-3 months. The grass was high. Every row I mowed the mower would ingest a black and gold striped garter snake. This was in Iowa City so the colors were appropriate. It was horrible and disgusting, and your photo reminded me of that - a hawk devouring a little snake. This is what spawned my observation about overgrown lawns, and hawks, in my reply.

I understood too, I lived in Arkansas for 20 years on the side of a mountain on 3 acres we had to keep mowed because of the copperheads. I was mowing one day and hit a patch of tall grass where a nest of these snakes were. I'm a firm believer of short grass.

I've also been informed the hawk wasn't eating a Blue Indigo racer but a Glass Snake also known as a Glass Lizard, these lizards have no legs, according to my source who sent me a PM to explain what it was the hawk was eating. It was hard to see what color the snake was and behind glass that I was shooting from even harder to tell which snake the hawk was eating.

Dan Paris · 04-11-2019, 01:34 AM

excellent capture thanks !

photolady95 · 04-11-2019, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by Dan Paris

excellent capture thanks !

Thanks for the compliment!

**Tonytee** · 04-11-2019, 05:02 AM

A very well executed photograph. I am a bird lover to excess. We found a hawk's nest in one of our trees recently which can be a bit disturbing, since it means they have found an adequate food supply. An endless number of baby squirrels.

. Mother Nature for ya, can be awesome and cruel at the same time.

Thanks so much for posting a wonderful viewing experience.

TT

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04-09-2019, 08:07 PM	#3
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	You recently had a marvelous shot too, Jer, I saw your Egret shots. But thanks for compliment on mine. And I have a nesting pair that is here year round, so I have lots of opportunity to get a shot like this in my backyard even though I live in a city, small though it is, our house sits on two lots, with enough tall trees for them to be protected. Last edited by photolady95; 04-09-2019 at 08:15 PM.

04-10-2019, 04:55 AM	#6
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Originally posted by mroeder75 That is an amazing photo. Mowing helps reduce snakes. But, happily so do hawks. Thanks for the compliment, and our yard doesn't get over grown so you can't see the ground where you walk but my oldest brother mowed the day before this happened so maybe he scared the snake out and caused the hawk to see him/her. This was not a poisonous snake though, it's Glass snake aka Glass Lizard, no legged thing. Originally posted by pichaser Red shouldered hawks are incredible flyers that are fun to see . Thanks for posting this great photo . I have a pair that nests not far from the house, so I have an opportunity to get photos of them year around. You're welcome for the posting and thanks for the compliment. Last edited by photolady95; 04-11-2019 at 01:30 AM.

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04-09-2019, 08:00 PM	#2
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Wow, this is a marvelous photo! I wish I could say I made this shot. Jer

04-09-2019, 08:51 PM	#4
mroeder75 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,597	That is an amazing photo. Mowing helps reduce snakes. But, happily so do hawks.

04-10-2019, 02:37 AM	#5
pichaser Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,776	Red shouldered hawks are incredible flyers that are fun to see . Thanks for posting this great photo .

04-10-2019, 11:52 AM	#7
mauri Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bain's Vlei, FS Photos: Albums Posts: 61	Great catch! For both you and the bird!

04-10-2019, 02:58 PM	#8
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Originally posted by mauri Great catch! For both you and the bird! Thanks.

04-10-2019, 04:15 PM	#9
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	This is super cool!!!!

04-10-2019, 08:33 PM	#10
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,144	That is one great capture

04-10-2019, 09:27 PM	#11
mroeder75 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,597	Originally posted by photolady95 Thanks for the compliment, and our yard doesn't get over grown so you can't see the ground where you walk but my oldest brother mowed the day before this happened so maybe he scared the snake out and caused the hawk to see him/her. This was not a poisonous snake though, it's a Blue Indigo Racer. 40-years ago when I was in college I helped a landlord clean up a rental that was trashed in Iowa City The lawn was not mowed for probably 2-3 months. The grass was high. Every row I mowed the mower would ingest a black and gold striped garter snake. This was in Iowa City so the colors were appropriate. It was horrible and disgusting, and your photo reminded me of that - a hawk devouring a little snake. This is what spawned my observation about overgrown lawns, and hawks, in my reply.

04-11-2019, 01:28 AM	#12
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Originally posted by luftfluss This is super cool!!!! Thanks for the compliment, I thought so too when I saw him/her eating. Originally posted by eaglem That is one great capture Thanks EM. Originally posted by mroeder75 40-years ago when I was in college I helped a landlord clean up a rental that was trashed in Iowa City The lawn was not mowed for probably 2-3 months. The grass was high. Every row I mowed the mower would ingest a black and gold striped garter snake. This was in Iowa City so the colors were appropriate. It was horrible and disgusting, and your photo reminded me of that - a hawk devouring a little snake. This is what spawned my observation about overgrown lawns, and hawks, in my reply. I understood too, I lived in Arkansas for 20 years on the side of a mountain on 3 acres we had to keep mowed because of the copperheads. I was mowing one day and hit a patch of tall grass where a nest of these snakes were. I'm a firm believer of short grass. I've also been informed the hawk wasn't eating a Blue Indigo racer but a Glass Snake also known as a Glass Lizard, these lizards have no legs, according to my source who sent me a PM to explain what it was the hawk was eating. It was hard to see what color the snake was and behind glass that I was shooting from even harder to tell which snake the hawk was eating.

04-11-2019, 01:34 AM	#13
Dan Paris Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 505	excellent capture thanks !

04-11-2019, 01:37 AM	#14
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dan Paris excellent capture thanks ! Thanks for the compliment!

04-11-2019, 05:02 AM	#15
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,452	A very well executed photograph. I am a bird lover to excess. We found a hawk's nest in one of our trees recently which can be a bit disturbing, since it means they have found an adequate food supply. An endless number of baby squirrels. . Mother Nature for ya, can be awesome and cruel at the same time. Thanks so much for posting a wonderful viewing experience. TT