Birds of Prey

A few days ago I was driving around Clarendon.  While I was stopped at a light, I happened to look up and saw this pair of V-22 Ospreys ascending - probably just taking off from Ft. Myer.  The engines were still rotating to forward flight position when I quickly took this shot of them - click on the photo for a larger view, they are just above the left end of the tall building in the background.

This aircraft was plagued with a number of challenges and crashes during it's development over the last 20 years.  The Wikipedia link below provides the history.  I'd seen another taking off recently down near Ft. Belvoir; after researching this was surprised to find that they are in full production and serving in active duty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-22_Osprey

Now for a second, more literal subject on this topic.  When Brian and I visited the Sutro Bath Ruins in San Francisco a few weeks ago, we happened to look up and saw a Red Tail hawk engaged in the watchful semi-hover behavior that they often have (mentioned in the Wikipedia article that is linked below). That was fascinating enough to watch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tail_hawk

A short time later, we looked back up at the hawk and noticed that it was carrying some sort of small rodent prey animal.  It had begun to make its tell tale "keer" call.  Suddenly, a second smaller bird rose in flight and began pursuing the one carrying the rodent, making all sorts of similar calls, trying to keep up.

My guess is, based on the time of year, we were seeing a parent teach a fledgling some hunting behaviors.  It was fascinating to watch - flying in all directions, sometimes passing just a few dozen feet over head, and covering a lot of distance above the ruins.  Most of the other tourists at the ruins also stopped to watch - I'm sure some of them got better photos than I did with the moto-cam, but this one wasn't so bad.