Cooper's Hawk vs. Swallow-tailed Kite

This post highlights a 25 August trip to the Everglades Agricultural Area.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

I had originally planned to title this article "part 3" of a series, but the observation of an attack of a Swallow-tailed Kite by a Cooper's Hawk seamed more appropriate to entice a prospective reader. Not to mention I found this event to be the highlight of the trip (barely).

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 2) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above (image 3) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 4) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Tom Obrock and I made an early departure from Fort Myers allowing arrival at Brown's Farm Road (Six Mile Bend) at sunrise. We first took a gander at the sod fields to see if any Upland Sandpiper or Buff-breasted Sandpiper were present. These species as well as Wilson's Phalarope remained elusive though may still be seen into September.

The Red-winged Blackbird above (image 5) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black Tern above (image 6) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Killdeer above (image 7) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Here at the southeast corner of CR 880 and Brown's Farm Road (SR 827) there were many hundreds of wading birds that had been roosting overnight. Mainly Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Anhinga, and both species of night-heron all seemingly coexisting in harmony.

The Black-necked Stilt above (image 8) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Barn Swallow above (image 9) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Barn Swallow above (image 10) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Traveling further south on Brown's Farm Road offered an early stop at a flooded field which would provide a significantly different experience on the return later in the morning. Black Tern numbers significantly improved while swallows became virtually absent, as examples.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 11) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 12) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 13) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Tom had done some research on another flooded field off of Brown's Farm Road that was about nine miles south of Six Mile Bend, and then about five miles west. This was certainly a main attraction of the trip which offered a very memorable experience.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 15) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Blue-winged Teal with Fulvous Whistling-Duck above (image 16) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Observing wildlife at the Everglades Agricultural Area again has to be noted negatively from a photography standpoint as the migrating birds are often seen at great distances. A teleconverter for the camera, which would bring the subjects closer in an image, would have been very beneficial on this trip.

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck above (image 17) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The scene above (image 18) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 19) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The teleconverter would have been a bust for what was a remarkable sight of a flock of birds in the distance at the southern Brown's Farm Road venue. I was stunned to see the birds that I thought were swallows were actually Blue-winged Teal well over 400 strong, clearly evident after I got their images on the computer.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 20) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 21) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Laughing Gull above (image 22) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

On occasion there is an observation of a wildlife event that cannot be captured for whatever reason. Such was the case when we arrived at the intersection of Miami Canal and Bolles Canal Roads for a possible view of the majestic Barn Owl.

The American Avocet above (image 23) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 24) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 25) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

A Red-shouldered Hawk was well camouflaged in a tree adjacent to one that hosted an Eastern Kingbird as noted by Tom. As I worked my way around the kingbird for a possibly better view, the unexpected happened. A Barn Owl flew from what appeared directly under the kingbird through the Cedar trees, and out of view in an instant.

The Killdeer above (image 26) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Killdeer above (image 27) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black-necked Stilt above (image 28) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Although a photograph of the Barn Owl was impossible under the circumstances, the sighting of the bird was amazing and will remain well ingrained in my memory forever. What I found particularly interesting was the huge wingspan of the bird that I thought was smaller in stature.

The Lesser Yellowlegs (l) with Stilt Sandpiper (r) above (image 29) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Stilt Sandpiper with Black-necked Stilt above (image 30) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 31) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

A final stop of the trip was for possible Bronzed Cowbirds at the Clewiston City Marina. The cowbirds were absent, but the best experience of the trip was about to unfold. In the distance to the east, a Cooper's Hawk approached us.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 32) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Black Tern above (image 33) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Laughing Gull with Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 34) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

By the time I was able to get the car out of the middle of the road (not always making the effort as Tom will attest) the hawk had made pursuit of a Swallow-tailed Kite. Although the hawk appeared to make a diligent effort to capture its prey, the kite was able to amazingly elude the ultra predator.

The Eastern Kingbird above (image 35) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Miami Canal Road) in August 2015.

The Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 36) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 37) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

The Swallow-tailed Kites observed were in a kettle exceeding a dozen obviously taking advantage of northerly winds. They were able to drift quickly out of view toward the south as had the hawk.

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 38) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 39) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 40) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

Happy Birthday, Mom! It was great to be with you for your 80th!

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 41) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

The Cooper's Hawk pursuing Swallow-tailed Kite above (image 42) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Clewiston City Marina) in August 2015.

Please also see August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part I
Please also see August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part II