Bat and the Hawk

  Early yesterday morning, I heard the call of a hawk on the far shore of the Bayou.  The call was not the usual, high-pitched scream of the redtail hawk but rather a series of short, raspy calls.  The ruckus kept up for the entire time I was working.  Later, as I was planting broccoli in the lower garden, I heard the call again.  This time, it was very close!  I looked up to find a red-shouldered hawk in the top of an oak tree just down the hill toward the pier.  So much for planting that broccoli!  I grabbed the camera and hoped for a shot.

  The bird never even acted startled as I made my way down the board path.  It obviously felt secure enough on its high perch.  I got my photograph then realized that the bird was very intent on watching something in the Small Gardens.  Uh, oh!  I knew Bat, the cat, was running helter-skelter through the pathways.  That rascal had better be careful!  I made my way back to the Small Gardens to search for the cat and found him staring right back at the hawk.  Well, at least, he knew the bird was there and a potential threat.

  While I personally have never known a red-shouldered hawk to attack a cat, we did have an osprey make an attempt on our old cat, Ms. Put.  The Bayou Queen cat came through with flying colors (literally as the osprey lost quite a number of feathers during the tangle).  That, in itself, was a first for me since ospreys very rarely seek anything other than fish as prey.  I would have never believed it had I not been in the yard at the time.  Still, the hawk has the potential to attack any small animal even though they usually have preferred prey.  Bat, the Bayou Prince, had better watch his step with the hawk in the area.  He is not nearly as a seasoned hunter as the Bayou Queen was.