While birding at the Mid Pines Rd. dog leg last week, I was lucky enough to get a nice close up look at a gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk.
I’d spotted it soaring in the sky and was thrilled when it swooped down and landed on a power pole just a few yards away.
It sat there for several minutes scanning the fields below before taking off again to a tree at the edge of the wood line.

Red-tailed hawks are a common sight in this area of central N.C., and in fact one of the most common hawk species found in the world.
As was the case here at Mid Pines Rd., they are usually seen soaring high over open fields or perched somewhere with a good view, like a telephone pole or fence post.

Red-tailed Hawks have even moved into cities where they have an unending supply of pigeons and sparrows to hunt and high building ledges to nest on.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty @canonusa #5ds