Late morning today saw a juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk swoop into the yard (we'd seen it a day or so before, passing by out over the street). It landed in one of the huge mature Rhododendrons in plain view for several moments before moving deeper in, out of sight. Small birds scattered out of the bushes there (there are several mature shrubs close upon one another). Hopped back out onto one of the more exposed branches a few times, back inside, flushed another small bird, then finally moved up to the top of the utility pole out on the street, by way of making a pass at the two flickers sitting up there. They departed abruptly. Then it flew further away, hard to see, but the crows gave away its location and presence with typical mobbing behavior, although only about 6 of them. At that point I was supposed to be hostessing breakfast for family and out-of-town visitor so had to get back to business at hand. But it was a pleasant and interesting interlude.

Dee Warnock

Edmonds, WA

beachdee at hotmail.com