Friends, A visit today and yesterday to Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota, a place about an hours drive from our home.  In the fall the hawks and other large birds migrate southward along the west shore of Lake Superior and often soar over Hawk Ridge.  The observatory group there counts the birds every year and they band many birds . They also educate the public about these wonderful birds that are often not seen close up and personal like this bird.  An educator is holding this bird and after a chat with us, the birds are turned loose to return to their migration.  This bird is a female sharp shined hawk and i was surprised by the small size.  When she matures, her chest feathers will get horizontal banding, her eye will go orange then red, and her back feather will get more of a gray than the chocolate brown that she has now.  til Tomorrow MJ