A Squirrel, a Hawk and a Train
Decatur Metro | July 9, 2012
Professional photographer Lisa Polucci recently captured this rather dramatic scene near the CSX rail line in Decatur. A red-tail hawk captured a squirrel on the grass, just as a CSX train went roaring past. The end result is the photo above.
But that’s not the only shot Lisa took. If you’re not too weak in the stomach, there’s an even more dramatic photo of the incident after the jump.
All photos copyrighted by Lisa Polucci Photography.
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Love seeing these birds of prey around the city – they are welcome to hunt squirrels in my yard anytime – great shots Lisa!
Thank you for all the comments. This was truly an incredible event. I had my camera with me and the hawk was so eager to eat that it paid no attention to me as I made over 200 images for about 30 minutes.
Now I know why they are called “red tail”.
Just showed the picture to Stanley. He said “Big whoop. I do that without wings!” Now he’s pissed that I didn’t document his latest squirrel feast last week.
Go hawk go.
Can we get a caption contest on the second shot? It’s the end of the day and I got nothing. But it seems like fertile ground.
I got nothing, but your screen name compels me to point out that the hawk is totally assassining down the avenue…
What was I thinking when I let go of you.
Is he back on moderation yet?
Wilco. Some people get it and the rest need an explanation…
The buzzard told the monkey “You are chokin’ me
Release your hold and I will set you free.”
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
“Your story’s so touching but it sounds just like a lie.”
“Straighten up and fly right!”
Full marks and thanks for playing!
YEAH, baby! Go, girl–eat as many of those little b@st@rds as you can!
Great pix, thanks for posting. I’m gonna blow them up & post them in my back yard, hope the resident rodentia will get the hint: “This could be YOU!”
“Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat… Rocky? ROCKY!!!! Oh God… *vomits*”
And thus, Rocky the Flying Squirrel took his final flight.
Also, Bullwinkle was hit by the train.
Night, kids!
+1
(Although I never before associated the loathsome varmints in my yard with Rocky, of whom I was quite fond as a child. This gives me something to ponder during happy hour.)
Talking squirrels get a pass.
How could there possibly be a hungry hawk in this neighborhood? Sometimes there are as many as 10 squirrels on the ground in my backyard. I have noticed that the squirrel population seems to cycle up and down over the years, and this seems to be a boom year. Wonder if they are responding to increased predation by hawks and coyotes?
I love those photos.
I love to watch the hawk that perches on the cross of the Baptist church at the corner of Clairemont and Commerce. Pretty but not entirely sure it’s not hunting tiny Baptists.
Don’t worry about that. Baptists are well known to be stiff and chewy. Their preferred diet is Episcopal, less meat- but lots more alcohol per pound.
Hee. My grandmother always called them Whiskey-palians. (Episcopalians. Not hawks.) Where two or more are gathered, there will be a fifth!
And my caption entry, “Squirrel. It’s what’s for dinner.”
Wow! Some shots.
Nature red in tooth and claw, indeed.
Awesome. That hawk is way better at getting rid of vermin with its claws than I am with my slingshot.
I love animals and nature but find it kind of funny if you see these particular images and then click the link above to my website and see images of happy people getting married or their portraits taken….
Yes, I thought that as well. But those are some nice wedding photos.
Thank you, dsw.
I hope that was one of the squirrels taking bites out of my tomatoes!! Even with the tomato screening up! GGGRRRRRRRR. Great photos!!
My Jack Russel Terrier is the Red Baron of squirrel kills.
Those squirrels are like the Roadrunner (beep beep) to my mini Schnauzer. He tries so hard to catch the little varmints without success.