March 2026 SOLC–Day 24
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I stepped inside from my walk, appreciating the blast of warm air, but even as the door shut behind me, my attention turned back outside again. Some movement had caught my eye. I scanned the gardens through the window, stopping when my eyes spotted a large-ish bird in the driveway.

What is that?

I moved closer to the window to see better, and noticed a smaller shape on the driveway beneath it. 

Oh! It‘s a hawk, and it must have caught something!

I’m not great at hawk ID, but I know what’s local, and figured it was probably a Cooper’s or a sharp-shinned. Clearly, it had just caught a bird, though I couldn’t see enough to ID the victim. The hawk’s flying strike must have been the movement that caught my attention. 

I raced for my camera and then moved stealthily back toward the window. It was still there! I knew a picture through the window wasn’t optimal, but I doubted the hawk would stick around if I opened the door. I took off the lens cap, turned on the camera, and tried to zoom in.

Nothing happened. What?!

I tried pressing the button to take a picture. Again, nothing happened. I checked to make sure I’d turned the camera on, and pressed Zoom again. Still nothing.

Suddenly, I remembered that days ago I’d decided to recharge the camera batteries, but… I’d never put them back in the camera! Backing away from the window and cursing my prior self, I moved to the outlet. Sure enough, there was the battery, nicely charged and waiting. 

I quickly grabbed it and pushed it into the bottom of the camera, my fingers fumbling in my haste. Already moving toward the window, I flipped over the swing cover…but it wouldn’t latch shut.

What!!?? Argh! What was going on?!

I glanced toward the window. The hawk was still there. For now. Hurry up! Hurry up! It’s going to fly away any second!

I looked back at the camera and battery again. Ugh. I’d put the battery in upside down! Another curse and groan. Quickly, I dumped the battery into my palm, inverted it, and reinserted it into the body of the camera. This time it clipped neatly into place. 

I raced back over to the window and tried zoomed in again. Yes! My camera was working. I moved up and down and from side to side, trying to get the best vantage. The varied stems and branches of the garden made focusing a challenge. Thankfully, the hawk stayed put. A few more adjustments, clicks and curses and then…I got the shot! Immediately afterward, the hawk spread its wings and flew off toward the trees, the nuthatch firmly grasped in its talons. The whole thing took only a minute or two.

It was a rare treat to see a hawk so close… but that poor wee bird at its feet!  Once I’d zoomed in, I could see its white belly and gaping beak. It was a nuthatch. One of my favorites. Even as I felt sorrow for its end, I marveled at the beauty and strength of the hawk.