This Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) female was flying directly towards me across the Crescent Water when suddenly she freaked out. A Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) sped overhead, arrowing towards her. There was much shouting by the Kingfisher, who loudly went hither and yon as the foiled Coop parked itself in a Sweetgum. 
I see Cooper’s in the air a lot more than I see them perched. They can be quite flighty, barely perching for long when they’re on the winged hunt.
This one, though, stuck around long enough for me to get some pictures.
While circling the hawk, I noticed these wet pellets on a bench. There sure look fishy, don’t they?
I think the Kingfisher perched on the back of the bench and coughed up these scaly, bony hairballs.
Speaking of hairballs: how to deal with the reflexive liar Trump, who uses the big-lie strategy every day.
Backyard and Beyond 
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