NH - Hinsdale Rough-legged Hawk

 

Rough-legged Hawk (first-winter) - Patterson Farm, Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. February 24th, 2021.

While running errands this morning I was more than happy to have five minutes of quality time with the Hinsdale Rough-legged Hawk just off Route 63. It looked healthy and settled, and even had a brief altercation with a young Red-tailed Hawk that had the nerve to take a vole from the Rough-leg's favored field at the Patterson Farm! I first noted this particular Rough-legged Hawk on Feb 22nd and fully expect it to stick around for a few more days at least. 

NH - Rough-legged Hawk in Hinsdale

 

Rough-legged Hawk - first-winter, Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. February 22nd, 2021.

The generally excellent run of good fortune with local Rough-legged Hawks continued today when I found this beauty hunting farmland just eight minutes north of my house in Northfield. Much like the two individuals along the Mohawk Trail in Charlemont, MA during Jan-Feb, this was another light morph but with notably thick black striations and a pretty extensive black-brown belly patch giving it an overall darker cast than the other light morphs that I've seen so far this winter. Fortunately there was enough snow-free verge to pull completely off Northfield Road and watch it hunt (successfully) from the roadside. Great views of my favorite North American buteo!

Rough-legged Hawk - first-winter, Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. February 22nd, 2021.

Successfully caught a rodent!

Rough-legged Hawk - location relative to Hinsdale and Northfield, February 22nd, 2021.