I stopped by Fairview Park Lake this morning to check on the waterfowl and
was treated to two Red-shouldered hawks engaged in what I think was mating
behavior.
Initially, I saw one of the hawks fly low across the ice and into a nearby
tree. A bit later the same bird flew out of that tree and into another
group of trees farther away where I could not see.
So, I drove over to have a better look and just as I arrived,TWO
Red-shoulders flew out of the trees and perched on two different trees near
where I was. Based on the sizes, one was a male and the other a female.
After a bit the male flew off, right over where I was, and soon after the
female flew off, right over me as well.
I did not see them actually copulate, but I suspect that is what they were
doing, as breeding season has begun for Eastern Red-shoulders (Buteo
lineatus,alleni).
In any event I found it all very interesting and fun, and such beautiful
raptors!
On the lake, I counted 12 Hooded Mergansers, spread out all over the lake,
3 Pied-billed Grebes, 4 Ring-billed Gulls, and about a dozen geese.
I also found a Great -lue heron in a tree, 6 Mourning doves in the trees,
and about 6-8 crows, flying around.
It was all a lot more than I expected to find.
--
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.
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