Red Shouldered Hawk and Pileated Woodpecker

Capt. Mike was painting the back of our house the other day and called me to come outside quickly and bring my camera... I love those calls!

NOTE:  There is a short video clip of this at the bottom of the post.  It also includes the huge, gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker that showed up about an hour later!

Two beautiful Hawks were perched in our pecan tree.  That could really only mean one thing, they were on the hunt.  As they flew in, there was a terrible squawking and we both thought they had a squirrel.  However, they perched there on the branch, with nothing in their clutches.

Several birds were noisily flying by to "scare them" off, but one Blue-jay in particular was being quite daring.  She was dive bombing them and behaving so bravely.

While I headed inside to grab my telephoto lens, one of the Hawks flew off.  But this one stayed in place, peering around, un-phased by the Blue-jays frivolous actions.

Suddenly the Hawk leaned forward, ready to launch...

Then took off, but didn't fly out of the tree.  Look at that beautiful wing span!

Then took off, but didn't fly out of the tree...

He circled around behind a large trunk that blocked my view, but fluttered there for a moment or two, sending the Blue-jay into a frenzy...

The hawk had stopped to grab something, which I thought was a bird, then took off with it in his claws...

My husband was videoing this whole scene.  I was unable to quite make out what the Hawk had picked up.  We later reviewed the video and it appeared the Hawk had picked up and flew off with an entire nest!!!!  

Oh, how sad for that Blue-jay...poor bird, she was trying so hard to protect.  The Circle of Life I suppose... :(

Here is the video clip of both the Hawk and the Pileated Woodpecker.  (The woodpecker came and left so quickly I was unable to get a picture)

Click below and
Go directly to YouTube to watch it