In birding and bird watching, timing is everything. Last Saturday, I was out on my apartment patio, waiting for a friend to stop by and, of course, I just happened to have my Swarovski Pocket binocular in hand. After all, that's the whole idea behind owning a compact binocular - you are more likley to have it with you when you need a binocular. Anyway, it was the middle of the afternoon, not when you would expect a lot of bird activity, but still a pleasant, sunny day. Out of the blue, an immature Sharp-shinned hawk or perhaps Cooper's, though size and tail shape leaned toward a Sharpie, landed in a maple, not 10 yards from my lawn chair. We stared at each other for about one minute, then off my visitor shot, low and fast, across the lawn and on through the suburbs. A minute or two, earlier or later, and I would have missed it all. That's birding for you.