RED-TAILED HAWK

WHAT COULD BE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN SPOTTING A HUGE RED-TAILED HAWK HIGH IN THE MAPLE TREE ABOVE THE LAKE?  THIS MORNING'S VISITOR WAS SPOTTED BY MY DAUGHTER AND A LOT OF RUNNING OUT OF DOORS WITH THE CAMERA TOOK PLACE! Such excitement!  My husband and Barbara were able to take several pictures before the hawk left his perch and flew to this side of the lake right over their heads!

Spotting the Red-tailed Hawk

Profile among the branches of the Maple tree.

His Majesty...

Red-tailed Hawk: Size: length 19-26 inches; wingspan 4 1/2 feet. Red-tails hunt from the air and from exposed perches, such as tops of dead trees.

Was this a great morning visitor or what!? Our backyard sanctuary has yielded visitors of all kinds including: raccoons, coyote, Red fox,Opposum, Mute swans, White Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Kingfisher, Blue Birds, Nuthatch, Titmouse, House Wrens, Carolina Wren, Flicker, Red-headed woodpecker, Mockingbird, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, bunnies, squirrels, tiny green lizards and some hop toads no bigger than the end of my little finger!  It is like being Beatrix Potter but without her artistic ability, ha!  We love all the creatures who visit.  We moved here from a house we built after 9 yrs there because we wanted the peace and quiet of an over 55 neighborhood.  We purchased a nice little home on a lake in this central community.  The area was a natural nesting place for Canadian Geese, Swan, etc. Although the community was built among many small lakes, it did not bother the wildlife at all and they continue to come every year with some staying all year long to our delight.  On the other side of the highway going North from our community, is a golf course where we have taken bike rides on the path and seen Storks in the lakes at that location.  How fortunate we are to live in such a beautfull area here in Garden City/Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. 

Thinking of retiring?  You would love it here!  We came 21 years ago today long before retirement age-just stepping out in faith and have never regretted it!  'Nuf said!