AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR ...

First of all I would like to thank you for the comments you have been leaving.  I am a bit slow getting back to you, but hope to catch up in the next day or so.

I was about to sit down to dinner yesterday when I walked by the patio door and saw this beauty.  It was not too long after 6.00 p.m.  He was perched on the top of the deck rail.  I was totally mesmerized, so close! 

We stared at each other for a while.  I thought my sudden appearance would have frightened it off, but it seemed as though it stayed for almost 15 minutes and I was rooted in the spot.  

He wasn't the only one with an open mouth.  After I shook myself out of my own open-mouthed stupor, I grabbed the camera and started snapping away. 

Here is a closer view of the above pose.

I kept taking photos because I thought beauty here would be gone.  I have no idea how long it had been there before I walked by.  

I am thinking we have a Cooper's Hawk here, but would really appreciate an ID from an expert.  I read it is hard to tell between a Cooper's and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Also I know that a juvenile can be different in markings than the adult, as in other birds.  I looked on line to try and figure it out, one article here and another here.  I want to say a Cooper's Hawk but haven't seen enough sightings to be absolutely sure, so any help will be appreciated.

I didn't want to leave but after dozens of photo opportunities I thanked beauty for this early evening gift.  I had been feeling that because of the loss of our two main trees, wildlife would be sparse but there it was to prove me wrong.  Gorgeous bird!  

Beauty's potential dinner was in hiding.  What I have noticed in the past is that our backyard wildlife is very good making themselves scarce when one of these is around.  They have to survive and long may they do so, but I was glad I didn't have to see it catch its dinner, as much as I like and admire them.  

Eventually the head chef was calling me to dinner, and after we had finished I went back hoping that beauty would still be there, but there was so sign.  A lovely way to end the day wasn't it?

Thanks for looking and I hope your day is a wonderful one.