24 - 2:47pm Red Tail Hawk
Yes it does! I get a nice clear view of the bird and take a whole lot more pictures hoping that at least one comes out well. Opportunities like this do not come along very often.
I use the web to try and identify the bird and ask friends and colleagues for their spin as well. The consensus of opinion is that it is a Red Tail Hawk.
The hawk is over two feet tall from head to tail and those talons look mighty powerful. The bird allows me several minutes of picture taking before hopping into the air to turn and glide effortlessly downslope through the trees and out of sight. Unfortunately I am too slow to capture the moment but I am still awed by the encounter.