I found the evidence the very next morning.
Feathers, plastered by rain, on the side of the fallen Willow tree.
And on the opposite side of the trunk , (far side from the house), more feathers. Confirming methinks that the victim was a Common Grackle.
Reconstructing events, it appears the airstrike occurred on or above the tree trunk, the hawk swooping in the direction away from the house towards the woods. With the impact blasting off the feathers, or perhaps the hawk started 'cleaning' its prey on the ground, before flying up to dine.
I've never seen an actual strike in the yard, although I've come close, and have seen the shower of feathers resulting from an airborne collision. More often than not, a hawk swoops through and the birds scatter. The hawk flying off empty taloned. Given the number of birds coming to our feeders I'm surprised more aren't taken by hawks. Those hawks must be eating somewhere.
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