LEAVING AND ARRIVING

I’m always sad when my favorite birds migrate south for the winter.  I have to remind myself how many Arctic birds migrate here from the North American tundra.  While I still await the snowy owls, last week the snow buntings arrived.  On the same sunny afternoon, I spotted this giant, rough-legged hawk on a seasonal road that happened to be plowed.  I crept slowly forward in my car with the window down, ready to shoot, when it took off.  It landed on the other side of the field in a stand of trees.  I got off another shot before it flew off again.  I decided to drive around the country block to see if it would return to the original tree.  It had, but took off even faster than before.  I was no match at playing tag with this striking hawk.