Nothing earth-shattering today, just a little story.

As I am walking out of my home after lunch to head out for Round 2 of
work today, I decided to quickly check the pines in the neighbors yard
for White-winged Crossbills.  Lots of bird activity all around, but no
X-bills.

I hear the House Sparrows, finches and juncos sound the alarm and
suddenly, out of one of the smaller trees comes a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
It dives into a bush in my front yard, which only stands about 3 feet
tall.  My neighbor, (also a birder) Patty was driving by at that exact
moment.  She gets out of her car and we both approach the bush to get
a closer look.  The bird then darts into my much larger trio of
leafless rose bushes across the yard where the House Sparrows roost in
the winter.

I can only hope that the Sharpie got a meal.

I run back inside to get my camera.  Patty stands watch.  The Sharpie
didn't stick around for photos and ventured off back into the tall
pines across the street.

I go back inside and make a phone call for work.

Knock knock.

There are two people at my door.  Patty, now accompanied by a worker
from the City of Annapolis are standing in my front yard admiring
something.  The City of Annapolis worker is taking photos with her
camera phone.  It's a beautiful Red Shouldered Hawk perched very close
on one of the large, low branches of my Tulip Poplar.  Must be a
'poplar' day for raptors in West Annapolis.  I'd better leaf the
comedy to the professionals.

So I go get my camera (again) and take a few photographs, probably
none as good as the one's on that worker's camera phone.  I'll post
some later on the blog.

The Red-Shouldered flies off towards Patty's home down the street.
The City of Annapolis worker goes back to working for the City of
Annapolis.  Patty heads home with instructions to call only if the
next West Annapolis raptor is a Goshawk. And I go to work satisfied
with my yard list for the day.

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD

http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/