Terror in the Skies

Flicker © Diane B. Reed

Despite the approach of cold weather, there's still a lot of activity at the pond. The resident Mallards paddle quietly through the golden leaves that dot the pond's surface. Occasionally, the tranquility of the scene is  broken by the noisy arrival of a small flock of Canada Geese stopping over. A pair of Flickers have been probing the dead Lombardy Poplar in search of insects. Our bird feeders are bustling with House Finches, Goldfinches, and Chickadees. 

All of a sudden, there is an explosion of wings. Birds scatter in every direction, one hits the window in its haste to flee. Out of the corner of my eye I see a swooping Sharp-shinned Hawk dropping down off our roof. He's a master of surprise, flying low and unseen until he appears over the rooftop a split second before he descends on the bird feeder. Pity the poor bird that he singles out!  

This time he misses, so he lands on the walnut tree below and positions himself on a branch near the trunk where the leaves hide him from view. He waits patiently for an unsuspecting bird to land nearby or on the feeders. Finally, he seems to give up and flies to a nearby porch for one more look around, then soars off into the distance. 

Sharp-shinned Hawk                        © Diane B. Reed