A Big Bird to Begin 2012

We were gone for about six weeks, and it took a little while for birds to start returning to my feeders, and slowly the usual Titmouse, Chickadees, Nuthatches and a variety of Woodpeckers have come back. 

However, yesterday I saw something large flying through the branches of the trees in the valley behind our home, and it actually landed in a tree within my view.  I believe it is as Broad-Winged Hawk.  Please correct me if I am wrong. 

Thank you, Kelly (Red and the Peanut).  I believe you are correct that it is a Red-Tailed Hawk.  I was looking more at his head and chest and completely overlooked those red tail feathers.

 

He seemed to enjoy resting..

...and preening

and just looking around in every direction.

Perhaps he was looking for lunch.

 

Maybe he even saw me too!

I was so glad he stopped by.