I was just out with the dogs for a walk over by the water filtration plant. As we came down the hill and turned south a hawk swooped down from above the roof of the building and soared low across the pavement and the grass, flying towards the lake and then turning west and flying out of sight. It was a large bird with a distinctly reddish tail, leading me to suspect (hey I’m no birder) it was none other than a red-tailed hawk.

We turned west and watched the bird fly back toward us, then across the harbour, landing on a tree out on the spit. Moments later it flew back toward us again, soaring low and fast and then swooped gently up to a perch in a tree perhaps 100 yards behind us.

The filtration plant and Sam Smith park beside it are amazing places for birdlife. Usually the first indicator that some special bird or another is around is the flock of birders with their long expensive camera lenses and their tripods. Tonight though, there was nobody out there but me and the dogs, our new bird friend and whatever it was hunting.