Cropped, sharpened.

It was inevitable. Bound to happen. Only a matter of time. I was expecting it sooner rather than later. Just wasn't thinking it would be today with camera close at hand.

This is a very normal occurrence with backyard bird feeders. Especially in the winter months. With enough time and feeding birds being acclimated to the location, all the hubbub about "Free Lunch! Come and get it!" surely would eventually attract the attention of a raptor or in this case an accipiter, a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

I was sitting in the dining room by the bay windows watching the Juncos, Finches, Sparrows and Chickadees enjoying their fiesta. The Hawk arrived and spooked the seed eaters into the boxwood bushes just below the feeders. Great cover for them when spooked.

But this Sharp-shinned Hawk had other plans while silently staring into the depths of the Boxwood shrub. In their world there is no "Free Lunch". You can guess what happens next.

It took me quite a bit of web surfing to decide on Sharp-shinned Hawk vs Cooper's Hawk as they are very, very similar in appearance. Even the best birders often get it wrong and I'm far from an avian expert. But I'm going with 'Sharpie', the nickname of Accipiter striatus, the Sharp-shinned Hawk.

I captured most of the action and will share the best images. No blood or gore.