Juvenile Female Red Tailed Hawk with Squirrel (Viewer Discretion is advised)

This was a video I filmed a while back. I had just shot an Eastern Grey Squirrel and even though I had removed the carcass from where it fell, this Red Tail must have come after the blood, as it was scratching amongst the leaves under the tree out of which I had shot the squirrel. It had fallen in amongst the leaves leaving a blood trail. As I fetched the carcass from where I had left it, trying to offer it to the hawk, it flew into a tree on the eastern side of our property. I put the squirrel carcass out on the lawn, thinking it would simply scoop it up and fly off. However, it soon came down and settled on the lawn to consume the carcass. I ran inside to fetch my camera, but I didn't have time to mount it on my tripod, and I wasn't sure how long she would stay around.

So, this is a very unstable video, nonetheless, it will give an idea of how quickly a hawk such as the Red Tail can make short shrift of a rather large squirrel carcass.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to mount the camera, so the video is very wobbly and ustable. I apologise for the lack of insight I had regarding the hawk not staying to eat the squirrel. This particular hawk knows me well and that is why I was able to stand so close to it. I was about 8 or 10 feet away from it and it tolerated my close presence, but as you can see, there was a low fence between us. I used to have a name for this hawk, but I have forgotten it.

Viewer discretion is advised.