Cooper’s Return

A couple months ago, while on a neighborhood walk, I was quite dismayed to find a roadside stump where a very grand tree had once been. That tree was where I had a magical Cooper’s hawk event last July (2020). It was not just a good photo op. While I was taking a photo, one of the juvenile Cooper’s hawks I had seen and heard there for weeks suddenly bolted from its perch above and dove almost straight at me at the base of the tree, circled the tree about head height twice, within six feet of me, and then swooped back to its perch. I actually believe it was chasing a large butterfly (or small bird), but perhaps it was finally annoyed with me and wanted me to get the hint. Seeing that tree gone broke my heart. There were two similar trees left on the same street corner, so I hoped maybe hawks would still visit.

Yesterday I decided to return to that area for my walk (my Canon 7D MkII is almost always with me on walks now). I had seen some Cooper’s hawks in other local areas recently after several months absence. Shortly after rounding the corner and heading towards the two trees a bird swooped past me above on my right, heading straight for the closest of the two trees. It was an adult Cooper’s! Right on cue. Racing me to the tree. It landed on an outer limb of the tree, allowing me to catch up, and stayed there for quite a long time while it watched me take many pictures from several angles below. Normally, adult Cooper’s fly away from me the moment they get a sense I am lingering and watching them. Do you think this Cooper in adult plumage could be the grown up juvenile I “met” in July? That is the story I will go with.

Dean