Hi Tweeters:
I had an exciting time today, walking my local trail w/ the dog. We were on
the DesMoines Creek Trail, about 1/4 mile south of 200th St. This is a
wide, paved trail popular w/ walkers, bikers, kids, dogs, etc. It was
midday, nice and sunny, and pretty quiet for birds. There was a
persistently calling Western Wood-pewee doing his "peeew" call. Then there
was a call similar to this but louder, more piercing, and very persistent.
Suddenly a hawk flew across the trail and into the nearby dense woods. It's
an area at a bend of the main trail, where two well-beaten foot paths
take off toward the west. Big, dense, deciduous trees. There were at least
2
birds and maybe 3 calling pee-er. I could see glimpses of them flying low
(about 15 ft up) through the trees.
Finally a bird popped out, and flew to a nearby, bare branch on a tree,
about 20 ft up and right next to the trail. It was an immature Cooper's
Hawk. Its tail was the classic shape, w/ shorter outer tail feathers, and
wide light terminal band. It had very fine streaks on its breast, and its
belly had no steaking. It's back was brown w/ some mottling. It clung
there, while people came by, dogs came by, my dog barked, etc. Everyone got
to see it. Another calling hawk flew across the trail, while the first one
was perched. Finally I left after about 1/2 hr. It was still there.
Now here is my question. This bird had dark eyes. Its eyes should be
straw-colored if he is a juvenile. I really noticed this. If this was a
young coops that was almost an adult (w/ dark eyes), would he have clung
there like that, letting everyone have such a grand look at him?
These are the first Cooper's Hawks I've seen in these woods. It obviously
was a family group. There are some open fields w/ no houses in this area,
as the whole area has been bought out by the Port of Seattle, and the houses
are gone. It's a huge area south of SeaTac airport, and just south of Tyee
golf course.
If anyone can tell us when this accipiter species' eye color changes, please
answer on Tweeters. These birds are great to watch and hear.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net