WHAT ON EARTH KIND OF BIRD IS THIS???

by Shirl Abrahamson
(Jacksonville,NC)

I was sitting on my back deck this afternoon using my laptop and looked up and saw this bird on one of the trees. I always have the camera with me when I am in the yard...as you must know from the amount of pictures I submit...and without thinking to change the camera setting I got these pictures. I had been taking pictures of peonies and hydrangeas so the setting was on close up so the pictures are of poor quality. This bird was hawk sized. I have never seen this bird before and cannot find it in any book I own. Can you help me please? It really has me wondering!