Close encounter with a hungry Red-shouldered Hawk.
Drove along Interstate 66 from Fairfax to Winchester VA, about 80 miles, and was entertained counting hawks along the road with my friend (she wanted to shop at a special boutique). We saw 23 hawks in route and 27 on the return drive---averaging a hawk about every 3 miles. Clearly there many hungry raptors.
The above photo was taken just off the interstate on a side road in Fairfax County. The hawk was spotted on a road sign. I pulled off the road, rolled the window down and took photos for about 90 seconds while only 15 feet away----he flew away when I reached for the HD camcorder, guess he wasn’t ready to become a movie star.. :).
