Red Shouldered Hawk

We were sitting in the living room this morning drinking our coffee, reading the newspaper and enjoying the light when I happened to turn my head and see this handsome bird sitting on a branch. It has to be a hawk, I thought, it's big but the small birds were continuing to flock unconcernedly to the feeders beneath.* obviously not a bird eater said John, but I'm surprised the birds can tell. It sat on the branch for a long time turning its head this way and that, and finally flew away, as silently as it had come.

It was barely above freezing out there. The frost was still thick on the roof and the birdbath was frozen over and I think the bird probably had puffed himself up in order to stay warm, but it still looked big. Perhaps it was the bare branch it was sitting on. We were hopeful that it was scanning the ground for ground squirrels. 

Whatever it was doing there, it provided us with a good look at it. I could have been a Cooper's Hawk but they are notoriously talkative. We often hear them shrieking as they fly over the roof or down the hill, announcing their presence to all and sundry. This bird made not a sound.

A walk down the driveway, around the corner and up the hill, and back down through the field cleared our heads and gave us a nice view of the blue sky...perhaps the last, as it is supposed to rain again for most of the week. 

We have finally been removed from the dark purple shading on the weather map, denoting 'extreme drought', which seems appropriate given the number of days it has rained since the 'storm doors opened'. They have yet to close which I suppose is a good thing, but it was nice to have a few days of crisp cold weather. I certainly feel more upbeat and optimistic when I can see blue sky, even if the bird bath is frozen over....

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