When I saw this Red-tailed Hawk standing in a field, I expected it to fly off as I approached with my
camera. But the hawk took a brief look at me (top image) before returning to staring at the ground.
Every minute or so the hawk would spread its wings and hop (below, left), so I assumed it had a rodent
that it was releasing and recapturing. But when the hawk suddenly pulled its head back I saw a snake
attempting to strike it (below, second from left). After working on its prey for a while, the hawk carried
the still wiggling snake to a nearby tree, draped it over a limb (below, third from left) and began to
dine (below, right). The images were captured in Sharon Woods Metro Park near Columbus, Ohio.