Several years ago at the Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale, I picked up a Smithsonian 
Birds of North America, a beautiful hardcover book with a page devoted to each species which tells you everything you need to know about each bird.I don't use it every time I see a new bird, but sometimes a species unusual enough shows up and I have to go look it up.
Yesterday morning while I was fixing a bowl of cereal, I saw a pair of birds swimming on the pond. That doesn't happen often so I got out the binoculars to see what they were. As soon as I saw the black and white head on one bird, I remembered seeing them last year, but I couldn't remember what it was.
I pulled out the bird book and sure enough I did write down that February 27, last year there was a pair on the pond. They were Hooded Mergansers. This year I tried to get close enough to get a photo which didn't work. If I had waited maybe he would have given me a show like he did last year. They must be on their way back home.
Last Sunday a young Red Hawk landed on the deck railing. I've never seen one get so close.
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