Swede’s Photographs @Swede1952@universeodon.com
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Surveillance from the Fence

Yesterday morning—Saturday, 13 September 2025—I looked out into the backyard and noticed a dark shape perched on the back fence near the bird feeder. At first glance, I thought it was a squirrel, its tail hanging down in that familiar arc. But as my brain caught up with my eyes, I realized it was something else entirely.

I grabbed my camera and headed to the sunroom, hoping to get a few shots without disturbing the figure. Through the lens, the mystery resolved: a Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), just hanging out, back to me, head turned nearly 180 degrees, scanning the ground below like a surgeon preparing for the first incision.

I cracked the door open and took a few more pictures. Then I stepped out onto the patio—and that was enough. The hawk lifted off and flew into the forest, landing in an oak tree just beyond the yard. It was still close enough for a few decent shots, but birds being birds, it tucked itself behind a veil of leaves, hidden but not gone.

Check out breathtaking photos of magnificent birds of prey, visit my photo gallery here:

swede1952-photographs.pixels.c

"A Cooper’s hawk perches on a white backyard fence, its back to the camera, body taut and feathers layered like a well-kept archive. The plumage is grayish-brown, sleek and orderly, catching soft light that reveals subtle ripples and banding. But the drama lies in the head—turned nearly 180 degrees, twisted with avian precision, as if the neck were a hinge of pure intent. Its sharp beak points downward, and its blazing orange eye scans the ground below, hunting without motion. The gaze is surgical, focused, and unblinking. This is not a casual perch—it’s surveillance. The tail feathers fan slightly behind, balanced and banded, while the wings remain folded tight against the body, conserving energy for the moment of strike. The background blurs into neutrality, placing all attention on the hawk’s posture and purpose. The image is signed © Swede's Photographs in the bottom right corner—a quiet credit for capturing this moment of stillness, tension, and anatomical mastery. This is a portrait of readiness. A sentinel with its back turned, but nothing missed." - Copilot with edits by the photographer
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