Click to enlarge.
Driving back into town I had my eye on the lake and decided to pull over and take a few pictures of the last ice floating on the now blue open water.
[pullquote]Pretty cool to see one of these big birds up close![/pullquote]I parked across from Sandy Point and was about to get out of my car when I noticed a huge bird practically camouflaged on the stump next to the private entrance sign. It was surreal and made my photo opp into so much more!
I was careful not to make a lot of noise or move too quickly but it didn’t seem afraid. I am wondering if it was hurt because it didn’t move. Just followed me with its eyes. I got pretty close (within 10 feet) but didn’t want to go right up to it not knowing what it might do to me. Who knows?
It might still be perched there… Pretty cool to see one of these big birds up close! What kind of bird is this? I am thinking Red-tailed hawk?
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eveticknor says
Yes, it is a Red-tailed Hawk. A bit surprising to see it so low and more so that it didn’t fly off right away. They usually do so immediately. You can see a brick-reddish colour on the tail, and a brown “belly band”, both of which are diagnostic of this species. Lucky you! I imagine it left not too long after you did.
Good Sighting!
Eve
catherine Seidenberg says
I heard from someone else on School St that she also saw a hawk sitting low like this..and it turned out its talons were missing, maybe frozen (or torn) off this winter when flying away from an icy overnight perch. They took this hawk to some people who rehabilitate wild birds..can’t think of the name but will find it. It was a rough winter!
Katie Shepard says
Maybe it was the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center?