Last year, I looked up from my desk, and saw a giant pair of talons at the base of the oak tree in the backyard. The rest of its body was obscured by part of the house. Hawks have come by before, but usually at some distance. This one was no more than eight feet away, but the chances of my getting a picture were very small. By the time I had gotten to the back door, it was gone. I had my camera, and opened the door as quietly as possible, when a huge, dark shape glided past (if I had gone two more steps, I would have run into it). I looked up, and there it was, atop the power pole between the redwood tree and the palm.

I really didn’t want to press my luck by getting closer. It watched me for a bit, then flew out of sight high into the front oak trees, where it made a series of abrupt sounds.

When I sent pictures to the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, someone told me it was probably a juvenile red-shouldered hawk.