SINCERE THANKS to the folks who responded to my blog Unknown bird visitor.

Question #1: How’s a gal supposed to identify the Coopers Hawk when it is not listed in Birding in Polk County, Shipley’s Backyard Birds of Eastern Texas, or The Joy of Birding, A Beginner’s Guide?? Those are the books I have. I unsuccessfully searched the Internet. Gratefully, interested individuals read my blog and responded.

Question #2: In twenty months, why make an appearance now and “pose” for me?? ~~ “Yes,” I have been a novice bird watcher since moving to Livingston, Polk County, Texas.

Top two pictures from the Internet. See my visitor below Internet pictures.

—

—

—

Postscript, Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 6:30 AM: An answer arrived via email–from eBird–and I share it here.

**Lorraine – The bird in your photos looks like a Cooper’s Hawk. They are very localized breeding birds in your area and you may not run across them unless you are looking for them, or, as in this case, it visits your back yard. My guess is that either you had some water it was looking for or perhaps something that attracted a prey item (rodents, small birds, etc). Feel free to update your eBird submission as you see fit. Roadside Hawk is extremely rare in the US with only a handful of sightings. –Eric**

Comment: Yes, the fountain with fresh water was nearby. Yes, there are rodents and small birds in my yard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thrill, thrill!! S/he came back at 7:25 PM, Tuesday, June 9th. Well maybe I shouldn’t get too excited?! It might be dining on some of my little birds?!