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Cool Cooper’s

January 21, 2023 by Tony

Cool Cooper’s
A Cooper’s hawk keeps watch on something below. (© Tony’s Takes)

Jumping back to Christmas Eve for this pic.

I had stopped by an area open space where I have had good luck with a variety of raptors. While I had seen Cooper’s hawks in the area, they were always elusive and quick to depart the area long before I could get a shot.

On this morning, one decided it was perfectly fine with the human intruding on its space. It gave me a ton of nice poses, almost entirely ignoring me and staying in the same spot for more than an hour.

The best part about these hawks I tend to think are those crazy eyes. So amazing!

Cooper’s hawk goes to the neighbor’s house for dinner

December 13, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

Cooper’s hawk goes to the neighbor’s house for dinner
A Cooper’s hawk keeps watch from a fence in suburbia. (© Tony’s Takes)

A fun encounter yesterday afternoon. I was pulling my truck in the garage to change the oil on it (yes, I do it myself – haha) and I saw a relatively big bird fly onto my neighbor’s fence. Realizing what it was, I ran in and grabbed my camera, and managed a few shots of it.

This ferocious one was camped out next to my neighbor’s bird house and as Cooper’s love nothing more than a songbird for dinner, I am sure it was hoping for a meal. Unfortunately, a passing car scared it off without any real action to be seen.

These particular Cooper’s hawks have been in our neighborhood for a few years but I have only gotten pics of them a few times. Cooper’s have adapted very well to life in suburbia and are relatively common but not commonly seen as they prefer to hide themselves well within trees, waiting on their unsuspecting prey.

A Cooper's hawk keeps watch from a fence in suburbia. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk keeps watch from a fence in suburbia. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's hawk keeps watch from a fence in suburbia. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk keeps watch from a fence in suburbia. (© Tony’s Takes)

Cooper’s hawk standing watch

April 16, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

Cooper’s hawk standing watch
A Cooper’s hawk keeps close watch near its home in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Just a very cool raptor posing proudly. These hawks are quite common but also very adept at staying buried in trees, out of sight. This is often done near suburban bird feeders where they wait to attack some smaller, unsuspecting little bird. This particular handsome fellow was quite willing to have its picture taken a few weeks ago, seen here taking a break from working on its nest.

A very focused Cooper’s hawk

March 30, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

A very focused Cooper’s hawk
A Cooper’s hawk focuses on its next target. (© Tony’s Takes)

A crazy fun encounter with this common but not-often-seen hawk and its perspective mate.

While photographing other birds at a lake this weekend, I kept hearing the unmistakable call of a Cooper’s. It was too much to resist, especially after catching a fleeting glimpse of it. I headed off in pursuit and eventually found this handsome fellow and his lady.

He was busy trying to impress her, gathering sticks and starting a new home. I observed them for a good hour, largely focusing on him as she was content to just sit and watch him work. He was very active, here, picking out the next stick to add to their home.

I absolutely love these guys although I have only photographed them a couple handfuls of times. Those ridiculous red eyes are absolutely fascinating to me.

You’ll find Cooper’s hawks across North America and they have learned to thrive in suburban areas. Oftentimes they take advantage of bird feeders, standing watch nearby, ready to swoop in and grab an unsuspecting dove, pigeon or starling. I have a pair in my neighborhood and have photographed them a couple of times but

Another reason to visit mom: Great horned owl and Cooper’s hawk battle

May 12, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Another reason to visit mom: Great horned owl and Cooper’s hawk battle
A Cooper’s hawk and crow hassle a great horned owl. (© Tony’s Takes)

Not that you ever really need another reason to visit your mom but I found one last night.

I went by to help her with some computer issues (the life of the family IT guy) and at one point went out to my truck to get something. As I closed the truck door, a great horned owl comes by fast and low with another bird in hot pursuit. They land at the park across the street and I can hear a Cooper’s hawk raising a big ruckus.

Of course I had my camera with me! I found them, and a crow, having a bit of a stare-down with the hawk and crow making a ton of noise. The owl finally had enough and took off right over me and the Cooper’s hawk gave pursuit.

In the end, the owl found a good, sheltered hiding place in a pine tree and the Cooper’s hawk perched nearby, drying itself out. It was raining and the light was horrible so the pics (especially the flyover) aren’t great but the story is and the action itself is fun to see. Taken in Brighton, #Colorado.

A Cooper's hawk pursues a great horned owl. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk pursues a great horned owl. (© Tony’s Takes)
A great horned owl seeks refuge from an attacking hawk. (© Tony's Takes)
A great horned owl seeks refuge from an attacking hawk. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's hawk dries out after pursuing an owl in the rain. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk dries out after pursuing an owl in the rain. (© Tony’s Takes)

Cooper’s hawk takes a bath in the street

September 19, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Cooper’s hawk takes a bath in the street
A Cooper’s hawk takes a drink from water in a gutter. (© Tony’s Takes)

This was a fun and surprise encounter! We have a family of Cooper’s hawks in our neighborhood but getting pics of them has been very elusive. I see them somewhat frequently but rarely where I can get a shot.

Yesterday morning, while my wife and I were enjoying coffee on the patio, one did a close flyby. Of course, I didn’t have my camera ready.

Later in the morning, I ran a quick errand and as I was coming back, one flew right in front of my truck and landed in a nearby tree. I ran home, grabbed my camera, and upon returning found the hawk was not in the tree but instead taking a bath in some standing water in the gutter!  Even better was that it didn’t mind me being right across the street from it and for 15 minutes I photographed it.

Certainly I would prefer a more natural setting but I won’t complain as these guys are just crazy cool with that beautiful plumage and those orange eyes.

Cooper’s have become well adapted to life in the city and it isn’t uncommon at all to find them in suburbia. They do prefer to stay well-hidden within trees so they aren’t often seen but they are there, watching, oftentimes preying on smaller birds.

A Cooper's hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony's Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk bathes in water in a gutter. (© Tony’s Takes)

Cooper’s hawk at home makes for the best pics of the day

May 5, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Cooper’s hawk at home makes for the best pics of the day
A Cooper’s hawk stakes out a spot in a suburban backyard in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

So, I spent all morning out taking pics (or trying to!) and get nothing extraordinary. I come home, walk upstairs and I see the creature that gives me my best shots of the day in our backyard – a gorgeous Cooper’s hawk.

Initially it was sitting then it laid down as if guarding a kill. It flew off after a bit with nothing in its talons and at the spot it was, only a small pile of pine needles. Not sure what it thought it had caught.

Way cool to see these guys though. Those eyes are awesome! BTW, please excuse the dead grass you are seeing. That is a section of lawn we are preparing to xeriscape so I killed everything there.  😉

A Cooper's hawk stakes out a spot in a suburban backyard in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper’s hawk stakes out a spot in a suburban backyard in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Cooper’s Hawk keeping close watch

October 19, 2018 by Tony

Cooper’s Hawk keeping close watch. These are some of the coolest raptors you could hope to see. Their…
A male Cooper’s Hawk keeps watch near its nest in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

These are some of the coolest raptors you could hope to see. Their gray plumage is gorgeous and those eyes are nothing short of awesome!

These are another couple cool shots I recently unearthed as I was sorting through old pics. Taken back in April near a friend’s home where this guy and his mate were establishing their own home. We had tons of fun capturing pics as they worked. 

A male Cooper's Hawk keeps watch near its nest in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A male Cooper’s Hawk keeps watch near its nest in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Cooper’s Hawk focused on escaping with its meal

April 25, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

A tip from a friend (thank you, Patrick!) led me to a neighborhood not far from my house where a mated pair of these cool raptors is setting up a home in a backyard. They were coming and going, working on their nest and occasionally perching in a tree by the street. The male returned from one excursion and as I was snapping pictures, it hopped straight at me to another, closer branch.

It wasn’t till I got home and downloaded the pictures that I saw it had a kill firmly in its talon’s grasp – a small bird of some type. Even without these two pics, I was able to get my best images to date of this elusive hawk which certainly made for a fun encounter.

While not often seen, the Cooper’s Hawk is actually quite common. Typically associated with forests and woodlands, they have proven themselves to be very adaptable and indeed seem to thrive in suburban and urban environments. However, they usually opt to hang out within the cover of tree branches and leaves, not normally out in the open.

A Cooper's Hawk leaps into the air with a small bird clutched in its talons. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper’s Hawk leaps into the air with a small bird clutched in its talons. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's Hawk leaps into the air with a small bird clutched in its talons. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper’s Hawk leaps into the air with a small bird clutched in its talons. (© Tony’s Takes)

Hawk hunts backyard chickens

November 8, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

A very fun thing to see this past weekend although I didn’t get images of all the action. I spotted a gorgeous Cooper’s Hawk hanging out in a suburban park so naturally stopped to get a picture.

It flew off immediately toward some neighboring houses and I was going to give up until I hear some chickens making a huge ruckus. I walked toward the noise and see just over the short fence three chickens huddled up under a bush, clearly distraught. I knew then that hawk had to be there.

Sure enough, I see it standing in the yard, probably trying to figure out how it can enjoy a nice breakfast of poultry. Unfortunately when the Cooper’s Hawk saw me it hopped up into a tree, then decided it didn’t want witnesses to the slaughter it was contemplating and headed off. While I didn’t get any action shots, I did get some decent images of the raptor.

Interestingly enough, the term ‘chicken hawk’ actually refers to the Cooper’s Hawk. Apparently that is fitting.

A Cooper's Hawk keeps watch on some backyard chickens in the hopes of getting a meal. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper’s Hawk keeps watch on some backyard chickens in the hopes of getting a meal. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper's Hawk keeps watch on some backyard chickens in the hopes of getting a meal. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Cooper’s Hawk keeps watch on some backyard chickens in the hopes of getting a meal. (© Tony’s Takes)
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