Greetings,

Yesterday, I was sitting in my backyard with 4 friends (9/11, East 
Silver Silver Spring, Montg Co) about 3 PM.  The six blue jays that hang 
around waiting for peanuts to be tossed to them began to raise a 
ruckus.  They seemed more disturbed than when a cat comes into the 
yard.  Then I saw the cause of commotion.  A sharp shinned hawk was 
sitting on the picket fence about 20 feet from us and was intensely 
watching us.  Then it swooped down, flying just over our heads, and 
landed on the platform feeder.  The sparrows went into a panic and the 
hawk flew back and landed in the cherry tree about 10 feet from where we 
were sitting.

This about my 4th sighting of a Sharpie in my backyard this month.  This 
seems early in the year for them to be in the city.  I usually have 
Sharpies and Cooper's hawks in the winter time when the trees have no 
leaves.  I am not sure that I like having a hawk watching me!

George Lane
6.5 miles north of the White House