I spy

This weekend, I was outside filling up my bird-feeders when I noticed a curious cat lurking around my porch. I beckoned to him, and although I knew he wasn't a stray, I wanted to give him some love. While I was calling to him Aaron comes out of the house-- stoned face and he says, "Baby, Baby-- come in here right now, come here." His request was steady and even; almost a whisper. I thought for a moment that perhaps the cat was rabid and he wanted me inside without making a lot of movement. So, as I came inside and closed the door, he pointed to a tree in our back yard. Low and behold- Eureka! Look what Aaron spied!

About this bird... I have consulted 3 sources and researched this on-line. With experience (and my specialty are raptures/birds of prey) my initial assumption was that it was a sharp-shinned hawk, as I have been seeing kettles of them around lately. I'm right, it is, and it's probably an immature adult. How magnificent is he??!! I wish I could have been closer, but he would have taken off. Thank God Aaron noticed him. This is pretty rare for him to be here, in such an urban area. Click to enlarge.

Here is another treat; a downy woodpecker, who we named Ferdinand. He*** has been frequenting our suet lately. You would be alarmed to know how much money I spend per month feeding these birds. But, they bring me so much joy! Just the other night Aaron was watching the birds after breakfast and he exclaims, "Oh, we have another bird-feeder, when did you get that one?" Hehehe.

(***Authors note: I am biased and much prefer boys to girls, hence all my animals, except one, is male. So I genderize everything as male even if it's not, unless I am certain of its sex.)