A pair of red shouldered hawks have again taken up residences in the pine tree.

They rebuilt the nest in mid February. It was still in good shape from last year.

Mama seems to be spending some time in the nest now (Feb 27)

Update April 16, 2011
I haven't seen much happening around the nest until today. The hawk's activity in the nest suggests they are now tending to chicks. It was about this day last year that it appeared a chick hatched. The hawks built up the rim of the nest higher this year so it may be a while before we get our first site of the chicks.

The bluejays and mockingbirds don't give the hawks much peace when they are in my yard's trees so I haven't been able to get as many close-ups as last year. (Our front yard live oak has a bluejay nest in it.)

This morning mama was showing off a mouse so that gave me an opportunity for some BIF (Bird-In-Flight) shots.

Update May 3, 2011
I finally got a decent view of the chicks. There's at least two.

Papa dropped off another mouse this evening (not shown)

On his way out he made a couple of low passes by me. I got four good photos on the second pass.


Update May 7, 2011
I finally spotted three chicks in the nest. I had suspected three because I occasionally saw movement elsewhere in the nest while seeing two heads. Today I finally saw three white heads at the same time.

Update May 22, 2011
The three chicks are doing well. Today I saw one of the chicks way out on a limb for the first time.

Update May 25, 2011
I saw one of the chicks fly this evening! So it's now a fledgling. This is a little earlier than I would have expected. It flew in a circle from the nesting tree over our front yard and back to the nesting tree. Then it flew behind the neighbor's house.

Update May 27, 2011
Two of the young hawks can now fly. Mama was flying around with a catch to encourage them to fly. One stayed close to the nest. The two that could fly went after mom.

Update May 30, 2011
All three juveniles can now fly. One spent a little time in my back yard hunting for things in the grass. It found a tasty cicada.

Update June 19, 2011
The three fledglings are still in the area. I photographed all three together in an oak behind our house yesterday. I'm seeing mama less these days.