While driving out of my neighborhood, I caught a movement from the corner of my eye. When I turned to look, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A large hawk was standing on my neighbor's lawn, eating a squirrel! I slowly backed the van up until I was right alongside it, and it never stopped eating. I lowered my passenger window, and still it didn't move. I only had my cell phone, which has a basic camera, but I took a few pictures just to document the experience. Unfortunately I have no capability to upload to the computer. It was quite a large red-tail.
Anyway, I was mesmerized watching this. In spite of thinking squirrels are cute, it didn't freak me out. I was happy for the hawk. It found a meal, and was unafraid in its surroundings.
When things got funny, was when the mail carrier went next door and was about to cross the lawn to this neighbor's house. She would have stumbled right onto him! I caught her attention with a wave and pointed. The look on her face was priceless! She came to the side of my van and leaned up, talking to me. "I wouldn't want to disturb him and have him come after me!" And the hawk kept eating, unconcerned. Annie snapped a few photos with her phone as well. We chatted for a couple of minutes, and then she went to the house, all the while keeping a wary eye on the hawk.
It wasn't until a few minutes later that the hawk took off, casual as could be, with the remains of the squirrel in its' talons, like one of those stuffing-free dog toys.
Really made my day.
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