Yesterday morning during breakfast, Morgan says "Mom you should see this huge hawk sitting in the tree!" I grabbed the camera and then realized the guineas were making a racket and I got really scared really fast. Luckily they were in their house perfectly aware there was a threat outside the door.
This brazen immature Northern Goshawk came out of the tree (the one you've seen in so many of my sunrise shots), flew right past their door, and up into a small juniper still near the coop.
Now, I'm learning guineas don't like to be harassed, they flocked out of their coop straight toward the culprit making quite the noise. You can see the hawk in the tree to the left and the guineas heading right for him. 
Maybe crows are related to guinea fowl because they too were having a fit and letting everyone know what was going on in the neighborhood. 
I tried to get close to the hawk, he left with the crows on his tail, but it wasn't very long before the guineas were squawking at the front of the yard. I guess there is no way those kids are going to give that hawk the element a distant hit. 
I tried again to get a close-up shot but these are still cropped quite a bit. He shuffled through the branches to get a better evil-eye on them
This brazen immature Northern Goshawk came out of the tree (the one you've seen in so many of my sunrise shots), flew right past their door, and up into a small juniper still near the coop.
Now, I'm learning guineas don't like to be harassed, they flocked out of their coop straight toward the culprit making quite the noise. You can see the hawk in the tree to the left and the guineas heading right for him. 
Maybe crows are related to guinea fowl because they too were having a fit and letting everyone know what was going on in the neighborhood. 
I tried to get close to the hawk, he left with the crows on his tail, but it wasn't very long before the guineas were squawking at the front of the yard. I guess there is no way those kids are going to give that hawk the element a distant hit. 
I tried again to get a close-up shot but these are still cropped quite a bit. He shuffled through the branches to get a better evil-eye on them
and with the light behind me I was able to get a pretty good shot.
Shortly after this last photo he took off and I thought that was the end of him. The guineas were on the porch where they knock knock on the door, but instead of a semi-gentle tapping I heard a big WHAM...and ran to see the hawk high-tailing it to the south!
I still have thirteen very healthy Guinea Fowl with no bumps on their heads!
12 comments:
Wow, interesting story and great photos to go along with it. It looks like that hawk would be too small to tackle one of the guineas.
Well, give those guineas a medal for bravery! Wow...that's pretty good to be chasing the hawk! Great photos of the story and great shots of the hawk considering all the drama going on! You live an exciting life :-) To answer your question: they are cypress trees and while finding that I found that Hovey Lake is another Indian site and added a link aboaut that to my post.
Thanks Mary! I thought that is was they were, Cypress trees. I had googled Hovey Lake and found it too. What a cool place that is!!
Thanks John...I don't know he was pretty intent on trying to tackle one! Not sure if it's a young red-tail or goshawk...waiting on a confirmation.
Whew, close one. Hope he doesn't return to see if he can get one.
Wow, that was some tale of tails! You captured some great photos in all those tense moments! He is quite handsome and striking even tho he tried to cut your count of guineas by one! Glad all worked out..maybe he will pick off one of those crows for lunch!
Wow, what a day! Goss Hawks are not know for giving up!
The "Battle of Chaumont 2008", it's got to go down in history.
Goodness, an impressive series of photos Eve. Yayyyyyyy, Guineas! Brave little things they are.
Yea for the guineas! No one messes with these guys!! :-)
Wow, those are brave little guinea fowls you have there. Safety in numbers, I guess.
I have to admit, I find raptors pretty striking, in a fierce kind of way.
Lunch time.. so glad you birds are safe and sound.
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