The hawk

hunting in my garden

I don’t know what sort of hawk it was but it might have been a Cooper Hawk (with thanks to Audubon.org for this great shot)

It’s a beautiful day and peaceful so far. There’s a helicopter droning in the distance, birds are busy carrying bits of leaves and bullrush in their beaks, shadows streak across the garden as the sun rises.

And so, as if expecting something, I find myself thinking and wondering what will happen today and even if it’s nothing it doesn’t matter. But then, that sickening sound and I know immediately, a bird has slammed into a window, shocking in its violence. I rush outside into the garden, perhaps it will survive. I feel guilty as it is my window that has brought about its demise.

Before I can even look for the poor bird I am suddenly aware of a shadow moving across the garden and enormous wings as a huge bird lands on the grass, almost in front of me. In a split second I realise it is a hawk and that my dog is about to go for it. I grab Frisca, the hawk glares at us and flies off. Obviously it had been chasing the bird that ended up smashing into the window in its desperation to escape. I know the hawk will come back and it does, almost immediately, swooping down from a tree, taking advantage of my inability to move as well as my ability to stop Frisca from rushing into a fight and becoming a second victim. The hawk is here for only one thing; it grabs the still-warm victim with agile feet and flies off again.

It all happens so fast but I am left with the impression of a truly majestic bird, I often hear its mournful call as it loops around the sky. Today, hunger has driven the hawk to hunt a primavera who vainly tried to take cover in my garden, my garden that is usually a haven of safety for so many birds.

There is no birdsong now, no activity, just silence, even the squirrels have scarpered. Life can only resume once the danger is over.