So busy catching fish it didn't notice the dark shape looming on the shore. It was a treat to get some close looks at this grebe while it speed through the water just under the surface.

At Sutro Baths this Red-tail catches a large rat and uses the brisk ocean breeze to ease the load.

Later, as I was walking up the path back to my car, the same hawk came kiting down the path at me, 3 feet off the ground, then leisurely reached down with one foot to pick up another rat that was making its way down the path. It pulled up about ten feet in front of me then banked left, landed, and dispatched the rat before leaving.

Alas, it was too dark for pictures.

Just before the previous photo, the hawk stretched both legs as it descended into the plants where the rat was hiding.

While kiting most hawks will occasionally stretch their legs, but as the wind gusted to high speeds, I noticed this hawk using its feet as flight controls, like a duck. It would tuck its wings in, with only primaries flared, then extend both feet as air brakes while its tail jutted up at a steep angle. I was eye level with the hawk as it kited just off the cliff, which allowed for close observation.

I'm learning the right spots to wait out the hawk's hunting rituals. When it isn't going well and the wind is high, this one likes to duck down into the wind shadow near the ground before popping over the ridge to let the ocean breeze propel it to great height.

I was waiting in the iceplant and it came at me like I wasn't there... fantastic.

On the way out to Sutro I stopped at Lloyd Lake and saw this drake leaving in raking light.