My wife and I came home this afternoon around four to find an immature male
sharp-shinned hawk sitting on one of the gables of our roof. I had to back the
car up so as not to scare it and open the trunk to get my binoculars. It
appeared to either be finishing a meal or, more likely, cleaning its feet. I
and my two neighbors have feeders, so it's not unusual to see an accipiter on
occasion. This time the light was so perfect, the bird so unconcerned about
our presence, and the field markings so clear that it just made my heart go
pitty-pat! Gosh!

Steve Aronoff
Bellingham, WA
(about a mile west of downtown)