A first for me, Chuckar

On my way out of the woods in Deerfield, NH yesterday I was very surprised when I crossed paths with a Chuckar. Native to southern Eurasia, the Chukar was introduced into the US from Pakistan to be a game bird. It lives in arid, rocky terrain across the western United States and southern Canada. The habitat around these parts is not quite what these birds require. I looked up places that stock chuckar for hunting and the closest one seems to be Alton NH, still a good distance away. More impressive is that this bird, an adult male has survived since at least last fall when it was probably released for hunting.
-Bill

Dazed Hawk on sidewalk

I was walking to get my morning coffee from a local coffee shop in Dover, NH today when I could not believe my eyes. Right in front of my splayed out on the sidewalk was a coopers hawk. Certainly it was dead I thought. As I approached it I saw its eye blink. I could tell right away that it had flown into the shop window.

My first thought was to get it off the hot sun-beaten sidewalk and into some shade. I carefully swept its wings back and lifted it off the ground. I was kind of in a panic and didn't have any idea where to go beside across the street to my company's loading dock. I could feel its heart beating as I was holding it, it was a very surreal feeling to be holding this amazing bird in my hands.

I placed the hawk on the dock and it stood there for a few minutes, clearly dazed. At the same time one of my co workers came down to get a delivery and was able to grab my camera for me so I could capture a few photos.

The hawk then flew on top of the UPS truck, then off into a tree. I check on it an hour later and it was still there. It seems dazed still but then it went for it, it flew off into the trees along the river. I truly hope it was ok and that my actions helped it recover from the shocked state that it was in.
-Bill