Winged Visitor to the Rainey Backyard

The girls spotted this absolutely stunning Cooper's hawk that came to visit us in our backyard, apparently hoping to make a meal of one of the dozens of goldfinches or house finches or sparrows that frequent our bird feeders. Although hawks like this one are common in this area, seeing one this close is pretty out of the ordinary. For us, anyway.

What's really funny is, we just saw our first bluejay in our yard yesterday (a scrub jay). There has been so much construction in this part of the county the past few years, and the trees have been so immature, that we haven't had the kind of wildlife one comes to expect in Vancouver. We're finally coming into our own, I guess. (Katrina's aunt and uncle regularly see raccoons on their back porch, and deer in their back field). We, on the other hand, have had exactly one (1) squirrel, and that was two years ago in the middle of the big ice storm. I ran out as soon as it was safe to drive and put up squirrel feeders, all for naught, apparently, as we haven't seen hide or bushy-tailed hair since.

Whatever. Take a gander at this magnificent piece of God's handiwork, right in our backyard. We watched him for the good part of an hour before he finally took wing and soared away.

Long distance shot.Closeup.What an amazing profile. Those eyes see everything.

Check out his markings on his tail feathers.
We truly live in the most amazing part of America. Peace to you all.