Red tail hawk landing in water?

[bat119]

A Red tailed hawk passed by my boat carrying a walleye about 12" long and very much alive in its talons. It landed in the lake about 30 feet off shore and started pecking at the fish as we got closer it took off with fish in talons then headed inland. I've never seen a raptor land in water like that I was thinking he was losing his fish and had to make an emergency landing.
Is it normal for hawk to land on water?

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by bat119

A Red tailed hawk passed by my boat carrying a walleye about 12" long and very much alive in its talons. It landed in the lake about 30 feet off shore and started pecking at the fish as we got closer it took off with fish in talons then headed inland. I've never seen a raptor land in water like that I was thinking he was losing his fish and had to make an emergency landing.
Is it normal for hawk to land on water?

I don't think its normal for red tailed hawks to catch fish.

A duck sure, but a fish is awful unusual.

[Talking moose]

Only raptor I know of to fish or enter water are eagles and Ospreys, but who knows? Neat experience !

[Mhunter51]

I suspect that it may have been an osprey as I don't think a redtail hawk will dive in the water to catch a fish. Maybe but my money would be on the osprey. Very interesting bird.

[bat119]

I'm sure it was a red tail it almost passed over our boat within 10 feet from us we could see the fish struggling, the fish was almost as long as the hawk. The water was dead calm, fish were jumping all over he might have just gotten lucky. Very unusual to see, nature can throw some curves sometimes, both of us were looking for cameras or phones but alas another missed moment

[Bobdep]

That's neat !!


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[Mistagin]

Similar story, happened just a few days ago. I was fishing out on the lake near where I'm staying and I saw a fish in distress splashing about 50 feet away. It was probably about 10-12 inches, not sure what kind. A sea gull landed nearby and took a couple of pokes at it, then the gull squawked and flew off. A great blue heron came down and landed in the water, grabbed the fish, and then flew to shore. Now, I know the water depth was about 30 feet deep! Never seen that before, and never would have thought a heron could land in and then take off from deep water!