The sunny and cool days are bringing out the hawks from their hiding places. Heading over for a short hike in the woods, I passed six different hawks including a pair of Red Tail Hawks.
Luckily I had the 100-400mm L lens in the car along with the Canon 7D. Quickly changing lenses and using the settings of Aperture priority f/7.1, Auto ISO, and daylight white balance, I was able to capture this bird in flight.
Although I’ve been suspecting for some time now that this lens focusing mechanism is on the fritz again, and surely none of my photos came out crisp. Also the sensor on the camera body has water spots on it.
So the whole kit and kaboodle will be sent off to Canon service tomorrow as there are exciting birding photo opportunities planned around the corner. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Birds, Nature
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Beautiful!!!
Thank you so much Sally ! It certainly was a Hawk Sunday.
Magnificent shot, I counted at least 15 red tails. And look at the pattern of the wings. Wow.
You’re awesome ! Indeed the detail on this hawk is just incredible and a true work of art from Mother Nature.
I love it, even though you’re treading on my territory now. I may have to do red-tailed hawks in my photo life list soon.
Oh..the Red Tail Hawk photo competition is ON !!
You’ll win, better lenses! Even with my two “pet” hawks, I can’t compete.
HAHA ! You never know..I still lack focus. 🙂 Half of it is the photographer!
Nice capture of the Red Tail Hawk. Reminded me of the rounds of golf I used to play at the Redhawk Golf Club in Temecula, CA years ago. Red and Gray tail hawks used to watch our errant shots from their lofty perches around the fairways.
I would love to know what the hawks thought while they watched your golf game. Wonder if they layed bets on who would win. A different life wasn’t it Tom?
Great seeing a bird like this flying overhead isn’t it?!
Oh it’s fantastic ! I was flying down the highway and saw the pair. Came to nearly a screeching halt so that I could capture them. I really need a “I BRAKE FOR HAWKS” bumper sticker.
The other day we were driving back from the grocery store right near our house when I spotted a hawk or falcon sitting on toop of a tree. I had the camera so we swung around to get pics but it must have taken one look at me and took off. I’m pretty sure it laughed at me right before flying off. Smarta$S bird. 😦 😉
What a beautiful bird, Emily. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia. I do have a fondness for raptors. They’re also easy to see because they’re big. 🙂
Great shot!!!
Thank you so much Rexlin. I got lucky this time.
Seems great to my eyes 🙂 Love the symmetry of its wings!
It was the best of the series. Thanks Madhu and have a wonderful day!
Hi Emily
Looks wonderful to me. Happy bird-watching!!
Thanks Corinne ! I’ve been having fun watching birds, can’t seem to get enough.
Beautiful bird, very well captured… 🙂
Do you have red tail hawks in Denmark? I wonder what types of raptors you have there.
No, not the red tail hawk isn’t in Denmark.
Danish name – latin name – and numbers of pair.
(European Honey Buzzard) Hvepsev̴ge РPernis apivorus 650-700 par
(Red Kite) Rød Glente – Milvus milvus 73 par (2008), >100 par (2009)
(Black Kite) Sort glente – Milvus migrans
(Common Buzzard) Musv̴ge РButeo buteo 6500 par
(White-tailed Eagle) Havørn – Haliaeetus albicilla in Danmark 25 par i 2008 /30 par 2009
(White-tailed Eagle) Havørn – Haliaeetus albicilla in Greenland 150 til 170 par
(Goshawk) Duehøg – Accipiter gentilis 350 par (big decline)
(Sparrowhawk) Spurvehøg – Accipiter nisus 3-4000 par
(Marsh Harrier) Rørhøg – Circus aeruginosus 7-800 par
(Hen Harrier) BlÃ¥ Kærhøg – Circus cyaneus earlier 1-5 par – now disappeared
(Montagu’s Harrier) Hedehøg – Circus pygargus 20-30 par (svinger fra Ã¥r til Ã¥r)
(Golden eagles) Kongeørn – Aquila chrysaetos 2 par (2010)
(Toed Snake Eagle) Slangeørn – Circaetus gallicus No breeding record for 150 years
(Fish hawk) Fiskeørn – Pandion haliaetus 1 par
(Peregrine Falcon) Vandrefalk – Falco perigrinus 3-4 par (2010)
(Lark Hawk) Lærkefalk – Falco subbuteo 10-20 par
(European Kestrel) TÃ¥rnfalk – Falco tinnunculus more than 3000 par
🙂
Such a great list Drake ! Only a few are seen here in the US. I saw a Peregrine for the first time this week. They sound like seagulls !
Fab shot! Love the blue sky, we have grey skies !
To even it out, it’s gray and rainy here today. Hope the blue is where you are.
Those are tough shots to get right. Well done!
Indeed they are ! The panning, scanning, focusing, etc. Takes countless amount of practice.
We often see hawks soaring over our back field but have never been in the right spot to get such a shot. We did, however, watch one swoop and strike right outside our kitchen window and nab a hapless robin ;( Nature is always interesting, not always pretty.
Wow ! That must have been a sight to see. I have a Cooper’s Hawk that does the same once in a while at my feeders, but all the birds duck into the hedgerow and he always comes up empty. I bet one day you’ll get a perfect view of yours. 🙂
After had struck he just sat there on the lawn with poor Mr. Robin in his clutches … and then he flew off with his catch.
This is a magnificent shot! Wow, the blue sky makes it all look majestic 🙂
Thanks Judy ! I wish it was super in focus, as I agree, the shot is fantastic. Oh well, perhaps another day…like today ! Another beautiful day!
What a great shot!!! Eeks tho…. Good luck with the camera!
Story of my life with this camera set. I am careful with them and haven’t used the lens much since it was serviced for the autofocus mechanism back in the summer. Strange..I’ve got a kit that’s a lemon. Now even the 500mm seems to act up a bit.
oh nooooo! say it isn’t so….! warranty! warranty!
Ok so I took the 500mm out today with my 60d and pics are in focus! Yeah! So has to be the 7d body again. Remember the “can I get it wet ” discussions? Bet that’s it! Glad I sent it in.
PHEW!!!!!
I don’t know though…. It can get a bit wet, it’s built for it!! I take it out ALL the time in drizzle. I hike with that puppy incessantly in the rain! I mean, I’m not dunking it in the swamp, lol…. At least the pros are looking at it.