Every so often this Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) makes a sortie through my back yard hoping to nab an unsuspecting songbird at my feeder. This day he came up empty and decided to perch nearby. I wondered why since once the songbirds were aware of his presence they kept a sharp eye on him. In relatively little time they were back feeding and he made no attempt at them. No doubt experience had taught him that tactic was doomed to failure.

After a little while he flew up the stream, perched and then dropped into the stream catching a frog. Which was taken to a nearby rooftop and consumed.

Location: Suburban Backyard, Bristow, VA