this is why I need a window to look out of

I looked up from what I was doing to see the local red shouldered hawk standing in a barely submerged pot in the turtle pond, getting a drink.

After a bit he (could be she, but I will refer to it as he) moved to perch on the gate into the Little Back Yard.

He turned around to face the pond again.

Then back in the pond standing in the barely submerged pot (from all the rain we had last week, usually it stands above the water line and has sword leaf growing in it but when it get submerged, the turtle eats the sword leaf which is why it looks like nothing is growing in it).

I think he wanted to take a bath but couldn't figure out how to manage it. He stepped off the edge of the pot into the deeper water a couple of times and lifted himself back onto the pot.

Then he moved to the edge of the pond. He would look directly at me quite often. He knew I was there standing just inside the open door taking pictures.

Back to the edge of the submerged pot.

He finally gave up and moved to the fence rail where he attracted the unwelcome attention of a mockingbird who eventually chased him off.

I waited and waited and waited to get the shot of him flying off and when he finally did, I missed it.