Like I said......

....I love the unexpected beauty I find right outside my front door!

I was heading out to bait the fox when I saw a lump that just didn't belong down by my driveway. Once I realized it was my ever elusive cooper's hawk, I ran and grabbed the camera of course! I was a little concerned it migh tbe injured....the ones that live in my woods are more skittish than the mourning doves and it was quite surprising to see it just sitting there so calmly. I usually only get a glimpse of a blurr once I realize they are around. Had it been ripping apart a meal it would have been a different story....but it wasn't.

So after admiring it for a few minutes, I started to approach it to see how it would react and if a net was needed. Happily it was fine....

....and I managed a couple of cool pictures of it flying away, since I kept the camera on it the whole time I approached in case of just such a thing!

Of course I was not quick enough to get the awesome pictures of it as it took off again flying towards me, then over me back into the woods behind the house. Damn! I finally caught a good look at you though...awesome!