I was able to spend 2 1/2 days down the shore at the beginning of this week. One of the biggest birding highlights was this beautiful young Swainson's Hawk at Rea Farm (the Beanery) in Cape May. He was there all day hunting yummy crickets.



He was an absolute joy to watch. I went to see him 3 separate times.



New Jersey
Zone 6

Great capture of a hawk on the ground without food in his mouth or feathers spread around

Russ Thompson
http://e-hummingbirds.com
http://vimeo.com/hummingbirds
http://hummingbirds.photoshop.com
Louisville, Kentucky

Thanks Russ. I was never expecting to see a new raptor when I went down the shore, especially one that is out of his normal range. It was quite a thrill. He never ate anything but crickets/insects the 2 days I saw him. Hopping all over the field and strutting around. It was a delightful surprise.

New Jersey
Zone 6

Very nice! Such a handsome raptor.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Hello Helen,

What a beautiful hawk!!! Great pics too. Sounds like you had a wonderful day...
Thanks for posting the pics...

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Thanks guys! It was so nice to be able to see a western raptor. He certainly was a cooperative subject. Cape May is such a great birding area and I went on 2 guided bird walks (through CMBO) while there and we saw a
Northern Goshawk perched in a tree Monday morning. I came back with 6 new birds, not bad for my last trip of the year. Can't wait till next year!

New Jersey
Zone 6

Beautiful shot of a beautiful raptor!

DuckWatcher
No California -- Zone 9b
Olympus SP-560 UZ

Congratulatios Helen!! Great picture!!! I heard about that northern gossawk which I've never seen before. What did it look like a coopers?

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Hi Sarah, I saw the Northern Goshawk Monday morning (11-09) on the walk at the Meadows with Pete Dunne, Don Freiday and other CMBO associates. He was a good distance from us but Karl Lukens got a digiscoped shot.






The Swainson's Hawk is still there along with an Ivory Gull and some Western Kingbirds!!!

New Jersey
Zone 6

I heard about the ivory gull too. You know there's a good reason that Cape May is the second most popular spot for birding in the USA I think the number one is in Texas somewhere.

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B