Late-night loveliness

| Seen around town | West Seattle Art Walk | Wildlife | WS culture/arts

First: Two notes about art. There’s an artists’ reception and sale this Thursday night at the Alki Bathhouse 5-8 pm; then, next Thursday night (Valentine’s Day), the West Seattle Art Walk in The Junction makes history with a record 20 venues participating. We just received the flyer; check it out here. (Or read more on the official Art Walk blog.)

Now, the beauty of nature. First photo is by Eilene Hutchinson (thank you!), who spotted this bird – believed to be a Cooper’s Hawk – on a wire over Spud’s:

And this is a shot we caught from Constellation Park at sunset tonight:

Bonnie February 5, 2008 (11:40 pm)

All right…now come on…can’t you just say it’s a hawk? Why do you have to mention that it is a Cooper’s Hawk? And you’re also characterizing it as a predator by say it is hanging out at Spud’s. come on… Can’t you be PC for the hawks too?

miws February 6, 2008 (5:21 am)

Oh yes, I agree! And the negative impact this report will have on Spud’s business, will result in their customer level not recovering to the point of where the line is out the door, until late spring or summer!

Mike

fiz February 6, 2008 (8:00 am)

It is a Cooper’s Hawk as confirmed by the Seattle Audubon Society staff. It’s a juvenile, probably a female. We photographed her on Saturday.

karen February 6, 2008 (8:12 am)

We have had a hawk like that in our back yard a few times recently. It catches a small bird and hangs out in the apple tree to enjoy it’s snack.

acemotel February 6, 2008 (10:21 am)

Bonnie: Big LOL
Fiz: Fabulous photo!

CM February 6, 2008 (11:09 am)

Aren’t they pretty birds? There’s one that hangs out on the steeple of Peace Lutheran occasionally (Thistle/39th) that will visit my birdbath every once in a while.

The chicadees, sparrows and pigeons get really still when it’s around.

Stacey February 6, 2008 (12:41 pm)

Cool picture…… it kind of looks like it’s flashing you! heeheehee

fiz February 6, 2008 (1:20 pm)

Acemotel, thanks for the photo compliment, and I regret that I didn’t take this one – the glory belongs to Eilene Hutchinson.

We sent our photos to Audubon because we couldn’t positively identify her with our bird books.

Here’s hoping we get another close look.

herongrrrl February 6, 2008 (1:26 pm)

One of those pinned a sparrow to our front porch a couple years ago. What a show! I’ve seen them frequently around Schmitz Park/Alki School.

JumboJim February 6, 2008 (2:03 pm)

That bird must’ve been confused. Spud’s should be the hangout for Osprey and Bald Eagles waiting on takeout. I would think a bird-eater like that should hang out at KFC or Ezell’s Fried Chicken.
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Beautiful picture!

Steve Taylor February 6, 2008 (10:53 pm)

JumboJim, a bird like that hangs out where theres other birds… I happen to have noticed a pigeon or two around Spuds. There will likely be a few less pigeons and other small (unfortunate) birds around because of such. Such is life, and the alternative. A beautiful bird! Regardless of how it makes it’s living. Thank you.

Steve Taylor

JumboJim February 7, 2008 (9:37 am)

Steve,

Guess my joke went awry. It was meant like this:
–
Osprey/Bald Eagle = fish eater
Spud’s = fish & chips
–
Cooper’s Hawk = bird eater
KFC/Ezell’s = chicken (bird)
–
–
Not much funnier in diagram form I guess…