This guy decided to do some preening.

It was a junior African Harrier Hawk (Polyboroidus typus) and he knew that I was watching him, but he decided to ignore me.

Mrs. Google will show you all about these hawks in Wikipedia HERE

I don’t know about you, but I find the junior better looking than the adult, as the youngster has lovely colors. The adult is grey with a small head and a yellow face. This guy will eventually also lose his colors and turn grey, but this will still take some time. They are large birds, and I have posted them in flight a few times before. It seems like this one will claim this territory, and I look forward to see much more of him. I also hope to catch the crows harassing the hawk, as they also breed in this area near the river, and they wouldn’t want the hawk grabbing their babies. If the hawk stays, we will have to notify the neighbors to keep their small dogs inside.

I heard that distinctive sharp and loud call, so I grabbed my camera and walked across the road, following the sound. And there he was, on the roof of a house.

It was almost a look of defiance that he gave me, but I don't care, as I will continue to keep an eye on him every time that he comes here.

We are also worried about the squirrels if the hawk stays, as the hawks seem to love squirrel meat, especially the squirrel babies. But by saying this, the hawks are also expert nest raiders, and times might get difficult for nature’s residents over here for some time. I will however keep an eye out for the hawk, and as usual I will chase him away when he gets too close for comfort.

On a better note, a local resident that walks his dogs in the road outside our house, came to show me a pair of owls that he took a photo of with his phone. He said that he knew that my camera would take better shots of the owls, and after a chat, I gave him the number of my wife’s phone. I don’t have a phone, as my fingers are too big to operate the small letters, and my wife simply passes the phone to me when it’s a call coming in for me.
In any case, he showed me where the owls sit, and if he sees them again, he will call me. So hopefully I will show you some owls soon.
Such is life.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

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