Red tail hawk, female; Ft Ward Park, Alexandria, VA. See below and here for pictures and more of the story of this female hawk and her chicks.

Red tail hawk, female, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. This mockingbird was harrassing the female red tail hawk as it perched in this tree about 50 yards from the nestlings pictured below. 

Red tail hawk chicks, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. 

Red tailed hawk chicks, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. Local birders are working to arrange a rescue of these two chicks. The mother was hit by a car while hunting; she has since been rehabilitated and returned to the area. She had fed the chicks a few times, but not enough. While she was in rehabilitation, the male fed the chicks for awhile but has not returned for some time. No one knows what happened to him. Today, the female was sitting in a tree about 50 yards away from the nest. These chicks were calling but not moving much. 

Racoon, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. Last week, another visitor told me that racoons were living in this tree. Today, I was pointing it out to someone else when I realized that a racoon was looking at me from it! 

Racoon, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. A closer look. 

Egret ballet. Great egrets, Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA. There were eight egrets and two great blue herons in the marsh this morning. 

Dunlin, Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA. There were four dunlin. A terrible picture I'm posting for record purposes only. I actually got a good look at these through the scope. 

Scarlet tanager, Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA. Terrible picture, but as this is a bird I've wanted to see since I was a little girl (not that rare a bird, but there you go!) I had to post it! I was thrilled. I got quite a good look at it through the scope one of the other walkers had. There were actually two of them.