Hunting the Hunter

[Loupey]

After work yesterday evening I found a Red-Tailed Hawk who allowed me the honor of watching/photographing it hunt.

Prior to this, I've only seen one ground attach by a RT (a long way off) and several aerials by Coopers. This one last night launched 3 separate attacks as the sun was setting. I must say that the attacks were very vicious and I was very surprised that their talons and legs can withstand such forces. He landed with the sound of a good sized hardback book being dropped onto the floor. I realize now that their prey probably are killed by the force of these landings more so than by the piercing of the talons (my assumption at least).

The first three images are from attack #2. The last image was from the last attack. I was hoping that I'd get a shot of the dangling prey against that beautiful background. No luck for me or for the RT last night.