A few days ago, I was out and about in the car. As I pulled up in the driveway of the house, a large bird winged away from one of the trees near the bird feeders and perched in another tree out back. I noticed several rusty red feathers among the bird’s wings and back and that it was much bigger and heavier flying than the usual red-tail hawks. I quickly slid the car window down and grabbed the phone; first snapping a single shot and then turning the video recording on. Neither of them did a great job of capturing details.
distant limb’s statue
cardinals, finches forget
blood spatters on snow
Looking online at Michigan native hawks and eagles, I narrowed it down to probably red-shouldered hawk or juvenile bald eagle.
talons follow eyes
death surprises quickly
which species is moot
Tao Talk 
The image isn’t clear enough for identification.
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I know 😦 The only thing I saw is that it is much bigger than a red-tail hawk and had rust/red in its wings as it flew away.
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Perhaps someone else can identify it for you.
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Interesting subject!
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Thanks, Paula! I don’t blame the raptors for coming to what is essentially for them a smorgasbord.
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nice captures in words and pic Lisa! ❣️
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Thank you ❤
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pleasure!! ❤️
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Excellent haibun, I especially like the final verse. I saw a red-shouldered hawk last week too–at least I’m pretty sure that’s what it was–my camera didn’t get great detail either. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe and glad you saw a hawk last week. I’ve been seeing them along the highway more and more.
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I always see them in Riverside Park, but they are soaring, high, rarely a chance to identify them. But there are lots of red tails around here. I also saw an eagle once.
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It looks like a sizable bird. Eat and be eaten!
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Thanks for reading, and yes, all part of the food chain.
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It probably is a Bird of Prey…they are so awesome…but not to mice or snakes lol. I especially love Owls.
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They have a raptor place where they take in birds of prey that can’t be released into the wild in Grand Rapids, Blandford Nature Center. They have outdoor and indoor enclosures where they rotate them so they don’t get too bored one way or another. It’s a chance to see them up close. They are so still sometimes you wonder if they are really alive!
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They are so impressive. We had a barn owl to crash into our window and knock itself out. We took care of it and called wildlife control but all of a sudden it woke up and flew to a tree…SO impressive of an animal…it was huge.
That is really cool. I would like to see some that close up…well and not knocked out.
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