This morning a red-tailed hawk was sitting in the cottonwood tree near the park entrance, facing south, her chest shining in the morning sun. I haven’t seen her there all summer, I bet the cool air feels good to her, too. I heard the goldfinches massing in the tall, weedy yellow flowers whose seeds they eat, fattening up for their southward migration. I saw more squirrels out under the oaks than I’ve seen in months; they, too, must enjoy the cooler air, at once relief and portent of the winter months to come. The stars were bright again this morning, Orion very visible and Sirius the dog star close behind.