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Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers

  
 
jeffryscott
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


The male Cooper's hawk I've been following for a while now is in full hunting/aggressor mode as his mate sits on the nest. Yesterday I heard commotion and saw the Cooper's hawk carrying a Gila woodpecker. He landed and began the process of dispatching the bird when another Gila woodpecker flew in screeching and screaming at the Cooper. The male Gila he was eating was abandoned when the screaming Gila took off, the Cooper pursued and caught the female Gila mid-flight (at a distance out of camera range) and15-20 seconds later landed at another nearby limb. The Cooper's hawk dispatched the second Gila, which he ended up taking to his mate for her to eat. He later brought the first Gila to another nearby tree to stash for later consumption.





First Gila woodpecker

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens    500mm    f/6.3    1/640s    5000 ISO    +2.0 EV  







Second Gila woodpecker

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 lens    280mm    f/6.3    1/1000s    12800 ISO    +1.7 EV  







Arriving with the first Gila woodpecker.

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens    500mm    f/6.3    1/320s    5000 ISO    -0.3 EV  







The male Cooper's hawk brings the female Gila woodpecker to the food transfer branch.

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens    500mm    f/6.3    1/640s    10000 ISO    +1.0 EV  







The female Cooper's hawk feeds on the woodpecker at her favorite dining spot.

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens    473mm    f/6.3    1/640s    3200 ISO    0.0 EV  







The male Cooper's hawk leaves the nest after the female returns from eating.

  OM-1    OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens    500mm    f/6.3    1/2000s    1000 ISO    -0.3 EV  




Jun 01, 2023 at 02:45 PM
Tyr-Sog
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Dang!
You'd think that woodpecker beak could do some damage if used right.
Sad yet a great documentation of wildlife action!



Jun 01, 2023 at 04:27 PM
birdied
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Agree, sad but great documentary.

Birdie



Jun 01, 2023 at 10:59 PM
Dave_E
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Great catch. The circle of life can be cruel for sure. Not easy being a bird or animal someone is always looking to get you.

Dave



Jun 02, 2023 at 11:01 AM
jeffryscott
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Tyr-Sog wrote:
Dang!
You'd think that woodpecker beak could do some damage if used right.
Sad yet a great documentation of wildlife action!


Risky business taking a Gila, but he came out unscathed. It certainly made me sad compared to, say, a dove ...
---------------------------------------------

birdied wrote:
Agree, sad but great documentary.

Birdie


Thank you!
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Dave_E wrote:
Great catch. The circle of life can be cruel for sure. Not easy being a bird or animal someone is always looking to get you.

Dave


Thanks! Danger lurks everywhere. Two months ago this Cooper's hawk was severely injured (leg) and couldn't hunt, and his mate was killed in probably the same event. He got through it with the help of a new mate and has recovered quite well.




Jun 03, 2023 at 09:54 AM
 


Search in Used Dept. 

Ted ellis
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Great captures for sure Jeffry.


Jun 03, 2023 at 12:38 PM
morris
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


1, 4 and 5 are my picks. Tricky lighting in the first

Morris



Jun 03, 2023 at 03:23 PM
cavuken
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Great story and great photos.

Ken



Jun 06, 2023 at 10:22 PM
louie champan
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Cooper's hawk takes two Gila woodpeckers


Pretty brutal stuff, but wildlife reality and you've documented it very nicely.


Jun 07, 2023 at 12:12 AM







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