VA Birders,
Yesterday it was very windy but warm here on Compton Mountain. I had just
stepped outside onto the porch, when a Red-shoulded Hawk came gliding from
around the left side of the house. The bird was crossing in front of me from
left to right at about 25 feet and only a few feet off the ground. Just as
it got directly in front of me a gust of wind seemed to catch it, and it
hung suspended there for a couple of seconds. I was struck by the
bright,pristine colors of its rufous shoulder patches and breast streaking.
As it spread its tail to use it as a rudder to maintain its position, the
contrasting white bands stood out vividly. The bird was so fresh looking it
seemed to have just flown out of an Audubon painting. All of this took place
within a few seconds, then the wind slowed, and the hawk glided slowly
across the yard and behind a Hemlock tree, looking me over as it went. As
luck would have it I didn't have my camera with me, but then again I
probably wouldn't have gotten the looks I did, if I had been fumbling with a
camera.
Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
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