Merlin

It was eerily quiet and deathly still. No birds were chattering in the trees and none were fluttering at the feeders. I knew there was a bird of prey in the yard.

A quick peak out a few windows, and I spotted the predator. (This house must be like a fast food restaurant for a hawk.) He (or she) perched on the tree branch right outside of the dining room for at least a couple of minutes--long enough for me to identify this guy as a Merlin.