nhbabs: Do you think the hawks are hunting something, like voles, near your house? Or maybe considering a nesting site close by? I saw the first Baltimore Orioles of the season today! and it's before the hummingbirds show up - usually the orioles come a little after the hummers. The grackles had gobbled up most of the suet outside and the orioles were picking at the scraps. I raced out and put new suet in all of the cages and added some apricot preserves in a dish. This one came back but didn't seem too impressed with the new suet. He did seem to be looking down at the preserves in the dish in the middle of the feeder. When they start showing interest in the fruit I'll phase out the suet in those cages to discourage the grackles. I have another suet feeder up in another area. Claire

While it is difficult to tell from the limited info, I would guess a Juvenile Sharp Shinned Hawk. Looks like an accipter Hawk with the feet and tail. I'm assuming that is a standard patio chair, which would be about 24" wide. That would make the Hawk about 12". I agree the eyebar makes it look like a Goshawk, but I don't think its close to being big enough, 20-24"

brit5467, I lived in Mathews when I saw one in Va. I also lived in Glouchester, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Hampton, Lightfoot. I lived in Va a long time, originally from there. Anyway, he came back yesterday, morning and late afternoon. I am going to try to get a better picture to post. Thanks again everyone for the ID.

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean they were hunting, they were just gliding around in circles, very, very high, from what I have read, this is common behavior for red-tailed hawks around this time of year and has something to do with mating. I was able to get a good look with my binoculars and they were definitely hawks. They have been doing this lately, more so on sunny days, usually at least two, sometimes more, but that day there were more of them than I have ever seen! Very pretty!