Concerning the Sighting of the Red-Throated Needletail Hawk

IN ONE LONG, graceful arc, the hawk swooped down from its perch at the top of a tall oak tree, gripped Janice tightly by the shoulders, closing its talons like a vice and, with a powerful beat of its wings, lifted her clean away. As the hawk climbed higher with Peter's bait clasped in its claws, he clicked and clicked his new Canon SX 50 digital camera, noting excitedly the vivid dash of brilliant red on the hawk’s throat and chest that confirmed two things: firstly its rarified breed, not often spotted in the UK, and secondly that he was now surely odds-on favourite to win the 2014 Extreme Birding in Bristol photo competition. He allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction, slung the leather strap of the Canon over his shoulder, and headed back to his car for a nice cup of ginseng tea.