Hawk visitation

I've had a noble visitor today, this Red Tailed Hawk. I first discovered it in the yard upon stepping out the door but it flew up and landed on top of the chimney of the studio. My camera was in the studio so I couldn't snap a photo of it there. The fire was going and the smoke was billowing around the hawk. I was surprised it would stand there on top of the metal chimney cover, I can only assume it was not hot. Finally I took a chance and went down the stairs to the studio to retrieve the camera and the hawk flew away, only to land in a nearby locust tree.

The pictures taken from that location were not so good. He stayed there until finally I got tired of watching him and went off for a walk. Saw an Eagle flying overhead but it was too high to get a photo. When I returned I had forgotten about the hawk until I was standing outside again and heard a strange sound. I looked up to the roof and there he was again, perched on the TV antenna! Snapped a lot of photos then, he seemed to be posing and even turned around, the better to keep his eyes on me I suppose. I just looked, he is still perched up there. The regular birds in the yard don't seem to be alarmed by him, I wonder if he is feeling sick or something.

While I had the camera out I thought I'd record this further evidence that spring is indeed on the way. My snowdrops have come up and here is one brave little flower. My grandfather (the Bulgarian one) gave me these snow drop bulbs and I always remember him when they come up every year. Lots of daffodills are raising their green heads up too. Won't be long now.

Be well.