Squirrels and songbirds lying low. Perched on a bare branch, a hawk who's probably Pip, the offspring of Bobby and the late Violet from NYU. I saw her crossing the river the other day, scattering pigeons as she circled and then landed on the Westbeth flagpole. A favorite spot of hers. Another birder saw her going in the other direction, across to NJ, the day before, so clearly she's playing both sides. Wonder if she has a mate, or at least a nest of her own? I've seen her here in my backyard once before, a couple of months ago, devouring a pigeon. Years before that I saw another red-tail here, in the snow. I imagine the local hawks hunt here when I'm not looking, too. Pip, you just keep your talons off my backyard population! Bella, by the way, is plastered to the window, waiting for the glass to dissolve so she can go out there and grab that bird. Remember, Bella grew up without a view. This whole bird thing is new to her. Her hunting instincts are good, but her sense of perspective, and therefore of relative size, is a little weak.