What I saw with my eagle eyes

Several times in recent months I've seen a red-tailed hawk surveying his kingdom from the top of a telephone pole that stands around the corner from my house. I've wanted to study him, but each time I've seen him, I've been driving by in a hurry.



A few days ago I was in my backyard with the dogs when I saw a single, very large bird "making lazy circles in the sky." It's that hawk, I thought, and ran inside to get my camera.

Outside again, I watched in awe as he swooped through the air, and I wondered what it must feel like to ride the wind that way.








He flew north, south, east and west of me, rapid ascents and slow, deep dives, an air show unto himself.









Then, to my amazement, a second hawk flew into view. Though they were never near enough to each other that I could capture them in the same frame, it was splendid to watch their aerial dance.




I took shot after shot with my zoom lens, trying to get as close as possible to these creatures so I could share their magnificence with you.





Finally, when I couldn't stand it any longer. I hurried inside to upload the images to my computer, hoping I'd be able to see greater detail by enlarging them.

Wait. Does that hawk have a red head? 

Oh, no! The "hawks" circling over my head were buzzards! Do you think this has anything to do with my recent birthday?