I’ve been gone for a few days. For some reason, the area where I leave seed for the chickadees and juncos has been deserted. A lone hummingbird was in the Mexican sage in the early morning, but that was it. Usually, there’s quite a bit of bird traffic throughout the day.

Trying to concentrate on work, I bent to my tasks, not really looking up for a couple of hours. I kept hearing a strange thumping now and then, but after checking, decided it was nothing unusual.

Then something big flew across the yard. It landed on the pot where we have a deer scare. It was a small hawk, and it seemed to be right at home. After staring at the water dripping for a bit, it moved into the lettuce bed. Hopped back on the pot, saw me. but didn’t seem fazed.

I went to get the tripod, knowing my handheld abilities are poor, proven this weekend when I tried to photograph bigger animals. The screen was definitely in the way. I tried from the window near the front door, but only its back end was visible from that angle. Once I got all set up, it took off for one of the oak trees.

I sure hope it comes back.