Eagles, and a Sharp Shinned Hawk

Heading toward the 520 Bridge earlier this week I saw a pair of eagles soaring above the Overlake Golf Course, probably looking for some tasty varmint for an afternoon snack. While they could be Ethel & Ernest, I suspect they were more likely the resident Hunts Point eagle pair. Later, coming back home over the bridge I saw one of our eagles on the light standard. As I've said, it is difficult to tell which one it is when they are not together. Comparing them side by side Ethel is obviously larger. I tend to look for Ernest's ruffled feathers....but this eagle was facing the oncoming traffic and I didn't get a glimpse of its backside. We've had a sharp shinned hawk visiting our backyard several times recently. The hawk sits right on our stone wall outside the kitchen window, and is an impressive sight. It seems to be looking for an inattentive squirrel, or in desperation, a fat junco would probably make a decent snack. Our squirrels are so incredibly fat from all the sunflower seeds dropped by the birds at the feeders that they simply must be a bit slower than usual. Haven't actually witnessed the hawk catch any prey, but that bird isn't skinny, either. So it is eating enough....maybe I'll see it in action one of these times. Our winter has been unusually mild. Very little snow, and none in the forecast. The end of 2012 was very soggy, but so far 2013 has been extremely dry. At least here in what is obviously a region affected by the rain shadow cast by the Olympics. Farther north, and only a few miles north at that, they've been soaked. But we are actually droughty here on the east side of Lake Washington. This area is famous for its mini-climates.