hawk!

I was sitting out back yesterday, talking on the phone and enjoying the fabulous spring weather, when I saw a hawk fly through the yard. I didn't even process it at first. I've never seen a hawk in our yard before! I believe it was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Either that or a Cooper's Hawk. They're very similar but the Sharpie is smaller. This was a smaller-to-medium hawk, larger than a mourning dove but smaller than a crow. It had very distinct bands on its tail, and the tail was squarish, pulled back tightly as the bird glided swiftly through our yard. I didn't see it beat its wings, so I can't judge based on that, and I didn't get a good look at its head because I wasn't paying attention at first. Either way, it's the best view of an accipiter I've ever had.

I'm glad it started raining at last--maybe I can get some work done now. I trimmed the bushes in the yard, but I've made no progress on grading.