Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at the Ridgefield NWR, from sun up until about noon. I drove the 4-mile auto tour route a bunch of times on this mostly sunny day. On one of my loops I saw this young Red-tailed Hawk flying toward me at the same time I noticed a mink hopping in the grass to my left, crossing the road right in front of my truck, and on to the other side of the road and into the vegetation. The hawk lost the mink but was still interested and began hovering about 20 feet above the road where the mink was last seen. I have pictures of the hawk hovering but he was facing away from me as luck would have it. This went on for about 20 seconds and then the hawk flew off. I would be surprised to see the hawk actually attack the mink–minks are pretty fierce!
Best VIEWED LARGE.
Canon 7D Mark II, 1/1600, f4, ISO 320, 500mm, 8:27 a.m.