Raptor Wednesday

For two weeks after seeing a Red-tailed Hawk eat a male American Kestrel, I could not confirm that the parent male of the nest and then family we’ve been watching all summer was not the victim. But here he is!

There was a strong clue on July 28, when a male went after a rare summer appearance by a Cooper’s Hawk. (Perhaps one of the Prospect breeding pair.)

He was soon joined by a female. But they were too far away for more specific ID purposes. I presume thew were the parents of the three youngsters that were perched closer to me:

Two of the three watching the aerial action.

Earlier, the trio had been in another of their favorite trees.