A Sharp Skinned Hawk and a Cardinal - Scene from the Kitchen, a Backyard Drama
Topic: Life
While chatting on the phone I look out my kitchen door onto the non-existent fire escape and there on the other staircase is a fluffed up hawk just sitting. Waiting for a bird to catch? I shriek into my friend's ear, "a hawk! Sharpskinned, I think. Hard to tell it's so puffed." "Probably cold. He'd have white spots on his back and white tail bars." advises my friend. "Coa-lld?" my barely concealed indignant reply. "What is he doing?" I wonder as he sits and sits. Then he shifts his position and reveals he's been sitting on his quarry - a red bird. I think it is a cardinal. My friend says it cannot be a cardinal as they just fight too hard. It must be a Hollywood Finch, also known as a purple (or house?) finch. To me this looks much redder than those birds.

Hawk shifts again. I thought at first he was shifting because his prey had moved. Now I clearly see the red beak of the cardinal. I must get off the phone to get some photos.
First photo was at 11:24 a.m. Hawk had already been sitting there at least 5 minutes but was giving some plucks at his feast. It struck me as a young hawk because of its posture. He was always fluffed, often with his head down into his shoulders, as if he wanted to do the baby bird 'feed me, feed me' ritual.
11:25 am.


11:31 a.m. After 23 pics through the glass door, I move to the other room so I can open a window and shoot from there. Instead of 12'(?) away he is 20' away. He does not move as I open the window. Still sits on the trophy occasionally tearing at it. I shoot boring pics hoping there will be some varied positions.




Cat enters the scene (enlarged view)
A cat has entered the scene. Neither cat nor hawk is aware of the other. The cat is coming to investigate whatever, and, not finding any cats to tussle or socialize with, and being unaware of the quiet hawk above him, he goes back where he came from.




Here you can see his breast feathers askew - the strong wind? the cardinal had put up quite a fight? or just a rumpled young hawk who doesn't yet groom his feathers well?


He turns around with his prey and moves it a few boards over.


Shifts the prey again and feeds a bit more.


He's turned around and moved the cardinal closer to the edge again. His  tail is pushed down against the boards more. Then in a flash, at 11:58 a.m., he takes off. I get a shot of him flying off under the porch eaves with his meal.