heard the crows going off, looked out the window, and saw a largish hawk in the tree branches just outside my office! I want to say it was a Cooper's, because I know they were nesting here last summer, but it seemed a little big for a Cooper's. it moved to another branch farther down the row of apartments, then to a branch in an evergreen where it had cover from the mob--and where I also couldn't see it any more.
hmm... looking at pictures, I'm now pretty sure it *wasn't* a Cooper's; it didn't have stripes on the tail, it had a more or less solid rusty red tail. and no, it wasn't a redtail hawk, it was *far* too large... I think! lemme check.
oooh, no, I'm completely wrong here--*female* red-tail hawks are up to 25% larger than males, and can be larger than crows! so that was almost certainly a female, possibly scouting for nesting territory! :D that would be *so awesome* eeeeee
@hvee last summer there was a Cooper's nesting nearby, which I didn't find out about until the three (!! very successful nest!!) fledglings were hopping around in the trees whistling for food on a daily basis. XD the crows are mostly paired up, and I think already building nests. I'd be surprised if a red-tail moves in, this strip of woods is already pretty crowded, but I'd be delighted! it'd be even better if the coyotes came back too... :)