Hawk feeding on roadkill

[Wazza]

I was driving home around lunchtime, through the suburban streets, (Henderson, to the New Zealanders here. ;)), and went driving past this bird on the edge of the road. Noticing it looked a bit bigger than a usual garden bird, I glanced in the mirror to realise it was a bird of prey!

Quickly did a U-turn, planted on the ancient 400mm lens, set it to Manual and shot away. Didn't last too long, before someone went walking past and it took its lunch and flew away.

I'm not exactly sure of the bird type, but thought it was mabe a Hawk? Looked like a juvenile as well, and kept making eye contact from me. I was parked across the road, about 8metres away. It continued to eat its lunch whilst traffic screamed past within 1-2 feet! None of the drivers noticed it either sadly. I was afraid this bird itself would be the next roadkill.

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill01.jpg
You looking at me?!

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill02.jpg
*gulp gulp*

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill03.jpg
Open Wide

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill04.jpg
Tearing it apart

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill05.jpg
Fly away

http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/kill06.jpg
Claws

Sorry, they're not as good quality as Cyber Dune's fantastic shots out his sisters window. :p
Limited budget, unless you don't mind sending that lens this way.

I'll trade ya for this one:
http://wazz*****scity.com/20d/400_3.jpg
:)

[Rob612]

I like the reportage-style. Good job.

[witchy]

Amazing shots!

[wizzcom]

Really impressive shots. Great work.

[robertwgross]

First, we need to get an identification on the hawk.
Second, we might want to get an identification on the recently departed bird.

---Bob Gross---

[drewmk2]

I think one of those is viable.

[chemicalbro]

I had a look through my BIG (and i mean HUGE) animal book and it appears to be an Australasian Harrier.............. the description here sounds a lot like your little guy.......
http://www.wingspan.co.nz/harrier.html

[Michaelmjc]

Thats sick to think they eat roadkill eh. Nice shots though.

[cfcRebel]

Nice captures Wazza! Awesome series!
It could be a juvenile like you said. It's probably inexperienced and unable to hunt anything, so settled for roadkill. It seems the roadkill ain't small either. A crow maybe?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Awesome!

Nice job getting the eye in focus.. very good shots :)

[tupe]

Great shots! You got a lot out of that brief opportunity. Nice work.

[Ballen Photo]

Very nice captures for the brief time you had. Nature at work. ;)
-Bruce

[Wazza]

Yeah, in my quick research before posting, it looked like the Australian Harrier Hawk, which is also common in New Zealand, and mentions it often feeds on roadkill. ;)

Anyway, thanks everyone.

[LazyPhotographer]

Very very cool! Looks like some sort of Harrier..