Bay Photos by Donna

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I’ve seen this Red-shouldered Hawk almost daily from our camp site, either flying by or diving down and then gone.  A few days ago when it landed in a tree along the river boardwalk very near me, my camera and I went for a walk.

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Red-shouldered Hawk

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The hawk would look at me on occasion but was more focused on the ground below. 

At one point, the hawk began lifting its head up and down, with long neck stretches, regurgitating and then expelling a small pellet fragment.

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Red-shouldered Hawk regurgitating

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Out pops the ‘pellet’

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A lot of work for such a little one

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Owls are not the only birds that expel pellets/meal fragments from their digestive system.  Raptors also do this.  For the larger birds, sometimes the pellet can be quite large.

The Red-shouldered Hawk went back to its watch on the ground below.  I could tell something had caught its eye. 

Suddenly it dove to the mangroves below and flew back up to another tree.  I got lucky with a flight shot!

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Red-shouldered Hawk

 

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Red-shouldered Hawk with his meal

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I could tell through my lens the hawk had caught a lizard.  But s/he was more concerned with me, so I left it to its meal.  I did not want to spook the hawk to take flight, and jeopardize it not continuing its daily return. 

And guess what, I saw it yesterday, sitting on the boardwalk railing, eating another meal.  😊 

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