What has been the exclusive nest area for the returning migratory Swainson Hawks at Sutters Landing Park, for the last five years I’ve been observing them, is now the domain of a Great Horned Owl family. They have at least one whitish downy-feathered chick and they occupy the same nest the SH used last year.
When I photographed the Owls from a long distance on the upper levee road, I thought is was a SH. When I enlarged the image at home, I was as surprised as the SH must have been to see who the new occupants are.
Five trees to the right, upriver from where the GHO nest is now, a Red-shoulder Hawk was resting today, in what has been another nest used by the SH in years past. See photos. I’ve seen The Red-shoulder Hawks try to takeover one of these nest before, but the SH have chased they off in short order.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks.
Robert
View Robert's gallery