Photo by Chris Bosak
A Red-tailed Hawk eats a Gray Squirrel in a cemetery in Darien, Oct. 2014.
A local cemetery is often fruitful when it comes to finding birds. This day was no exception as literally hundreds of juncos and other small sparrows scattered as I drove slowly along the narrow roads.
I almost missed the highlight of the short birding trip, though. I glanced to my right just in time to see a Red-tailed Hawk on the ground a few dozen yards away. I hit the brakes and backed up just a touch. A Red-tailed Hawk on the ground usually means it is eating. Such was the case as this raptor was picking apart a freshly-killed Gray Squirrel. I watched for a bit, snapped a few photos and left the hawk to its meal. They aren’t called birds of prey for nothing.
More photos below:
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Red-tailed Hawk eats a Gray Squirrel in a cemetery in Darien, Conn., Oct. 2014.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Red-tailed Hawk eats a Gray Squirrel in a cemetery in Darien, Conn., Oct. 2014.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Red-tailed Hawk eats a Gray Squirrel in a cemetery in Darien, Conn., Oct. 2014.
Birds of New England.com 
Great to see a bird of prey at its work. And cemeteries . . . well, you know why I’m smiling at that.
LikeLike
I know, funny. May sound morbid, but cemeteries are good open spaces for birds and other wildlife.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Great job Chris!” via Facebook, from Ed
LikeLike
“Great photos! A few years back, I watched a hawk do its thing at the Pine Island Historical Cemetery (Mathews Park in Norwalk). I guess they like cemeteries (or maybe the open space). I also have a few photos of a hawk with a squirrel in my yard but not nearly as good as these.” via Facebook, from David
LikeLike