Cormorant stalked by Red-tailed Hawk...

                                                                                                           Photos by BarrytheBirder

I spotted this Double-crested Cormorant on the small pond, at the south-west corner of King Road and Bathurst Street, in Temperanceville recently.   It dove under the water a couple of times but came up 'empty-beaked' each time.   It took off and was immediately chased by a Red-tailed Hawk (photos below) that had been watching it patiently from a small tree at the edge of the pond.   Once airborne, the Cormorant made a sharp 180 degree turn and sped off, leaving the 'Red-tail' far behind.

Sorry for the poor quality photos, but it all happened in less than a minute and I was hard-pressed to get the pictures I did.   I was also surprised to see a Red-tailed Hawk go after a bird as large as a Cormorant, which is 1/3 larger and heavier than the 'Red-tail'.   Then again the 'Red-tail' had that big hooked beak and those big sharp talons; so nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder