A hawkish view of the Common

One day earlier this year, we were at the little playground in the Common, and there were squirrels a-plenty. I heard this WHOOSH of wings from behind me and saw a squirrel dash up a tree just as this big hawk hit the ground, talons ready for action. He only missed the squirrel by a second or two.

Nobody else seemed to be paying attention to this bird but me. The hawk stayed there for close to a minute, sort of recomposing itself after the miss, before heading off into the trees to wait for his next opportunity to catch some prey. I was sorely disappointed not to have my camera.