Red-shouldered Hawk After Dinner

Red-shouldered Hawk

While most wildlife photo opportunities must be worked for, the opportunity to photograph this Red-shouldered hawk came call.  As my wife and I were washing the dinner dishes I noticed the hawk perched along our east property line.  (You can see where my attention was; obviously not on the dishes !)  While the distance was too far (130 yards)for high-definition portrait work I hoped that something good could come from taking a few shots.

 

Retrieving the camera, the 600mm lens and the tripod I set it all up and opened the patio door hoping not scare the bird.  Looking through the viewfinder I could see the mirage created by the escaping heat hitting the cold outside air, a sure recipe for blurred shots.  Moving onto the deck I was met with more challenges as the wind was blowing briskly shaking not only the hawk and its perch but vibrating the deck as well.  The only way to freeze the hawk was with a high shutter speed however considering the cropping necessary to make a nice composition with a decent size subject I decided to keep the ISO at 200.  Selecting a comprise between ISO, f-stop and shutter I shot 64 images before the hawk departed for a new observation post.  Of the images shot only a few remained after deleting the blurred shots making the final selection of the best overall image a fairly easy matter.

 

Keep in mind while photographing in the coming weeks that mirage is very prevalent on sunny days throughout late winter and early spring.  With a cold earth and warm sunshine, shimmering heat waves will occur blurring many shots where the focus is correct, the subject still, and the camera/lens suitably supported.  The longer the lens the more problem it creates and the greater the distance between the front lens element and the subject the more heat waves can be present.  The only cure is to get as close as possible. 

 

Also keep in mind when shooting out of a car window in cold weather that the escaping heat from inside the car will create mirage as well.  While it is more comfortable to keep the auto warm, if you will be shooting out the window, for sharp images, turn off the heat.

 

 

Early Signs Of The Coming Spring

Cooper's Hawk watching for prey

Even as winter's snow swirls through the air the first faint signs of a change of seasons can be found.

 

A stop at a local lake revealed that it will be some time until it will be open for returning waterfowl.  However the ice is thin as indicated by one area remaining open.  While at the lake I watched as a mature Bald Eagle soared over heard and listened as a red-bellied woodpecker drumming out its territorial call, a sign that spring is on the way.

 

Mourning Dove

 

 I heard my first mourning dove of the year cooing Friday evening and many more calling Saturday morning.

Mourning Doves feeding

 

Canada Geese

 

And a stop at a local wetland revealed some open water and a pair of Canada Geese.

 

Before leaving I observed a flock of mallards swoop in for a splash-down.  While Canada's and Mallards are residents the migratory waterfowl won't be long in arriving as they begin their journey to the more northern nesting grounds.

 

 

Bird on a Wire: Broad-winged Hawk

I was slowly motoring down a mountain top gravel road when movement at the top of the windshield grabbed my attention.  A hawk had taken flight from an overhanging branch, flying above and slightly in front of my slow moving car.  After a few moments the hawk made a sharp left turn and landed on a nearby power line.  Not expecting the hawk to sit for long I stopped the car and scooped up the Canon 30D with a 100-400 lens and triggered a few shots for the record.

Surprisingly the hawk remained perched and did not seem overly concerned with my intrusion.  Handing off the 30D to my wife I retrieved the 60D & 600mm F4 from the backseat, adjusted the window to provide lens support and began shooting in earnest.  It was only after doing some research that I learned that I had photographed an immature broad-winged hawk.  These birds, while common to our area, spend most of their time in the woods and seldom perch in a open spot where they can be photographed. 

Broad-winged hawks nest in our area as well as much farther north.  Their fall migration has begun with considerable numbers being counted daily as they pass by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on their long trek to winter in South America.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Taking advantage of clearing skies last evening I headed to the wetlands concealing myself in hopes of close-up waterfowl encounters.  The waterfowl eluded me but during my wait this Red-shouldered Hawk suddenly swooped into view.  Landing in a low growing tree it was obvious that the hawk was hunting.  During the time it spent there I watched it swoop down twice and each time staying out of sight on the ground for a few minutes.  The second time it reappeared it still had feathers in its beak so I must assume that some hapless song bird had become dinner.

Keeping the camera trained upon the hawk I was ready for the take-off when it came

Shooting continuous rapid fire I managed two decent shots before the bird moved completely out of focus.

These shots are not as sharp as I would prefer but the distance was quite long for my 400mm lens and the images you see here are heavily cropped.  Certainly not portrait quality images but they are a great reminder of a wonderful outdoor experience watching the Red-shouldered Hawk successfully hunt.

Needed: Bird Identification Help

While photographing birds at a small Florida wetland in late December this small bird perched momentairly on a nearby fence wire.  I'm unsure of it's identification and any help you can give is much appreciated.

I also photographed this hawk at the same wetland.  Again I am unsure of it's positive identification.  I think it may be a Broad-winged hawk and again would appreciate confirmation from a more experienced birder than I.

Another view of the same hawk

I find bird identification frustrating at times with all of the plumage variations.  Immature, male, female, breeding plumage, non breeding plumage etc can drive one insane.  Rather than go totally nuts I prefer to photograph the birds for their beauty and the beauty of their surrounding.  Getting a good positive identification is a bonus, not a necessary requirement for me to consider any one encounter a success.

Hunting Harrier

Sometimes I venture far afield looking for wildlife photo ops but this time the photo op came looking for me.  While preparing lunch Sunday I noticed a female Northern Harrier hunting over the adjoining farm.  I readied the camera in case she moved closer and soon was rewarded when she began hunting the meadow directly behind my home.

Northern Harriers fly slowly and close to the ground when hunting, sometimes within a foot or two of the tops of the grass.  This photograph caught the hawk as she rose in the air to make a turn.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology lists my area as the southern edge of the Northern Harrier's breeding range but I cannot recall ever seeing one during the summer. During winter it is not uncommon to see these large owl-faced hawks gracefully swooping low the the ground.

Going into a short stoop she can be seen here plummeting into the meadow

And rising a moment later with a vole nest clutched in her talons.  Take note of her head position; she is intently looking at the nest, not where she is going.

Apparently satisfied that the nest failed to contain her prey she is seen here dropping it as she continues her hunt.

These shots were taken hand-held at a distance of about one hundred yards and cropped heavily. 

Harassment: Mockingbird & Red-tailed Hawk

Glancing out of the bathroom window a flurry of motion among the distant tree tops caught my attention.  Focusing my eyes upon the activity I discerned a Northern Mockingbird chasing a Red-tailed Hawk as it flew by.  A moment later the hawk landed in a tree top and I hurried for the camera. 

As I focused in on the action the Mockingbird was beginning yet another dive attack.

Firing on high-speed continuous this frame captures the mockingbird as it swooped in.

 At the last moment of the dive-bomb attack the mockingbird reverses direction while the hawk seemingly did not even blink. 

Following this attack the mockingbird lit to the left of the hawk staying there until the hawk flew away.

The quality of these images leaves much to be desired as they were taken at over 100 yards, handheld with the 100-400mm Canon lens in poor light and heavily cropped. 

Hunting Kestrel

For me the American Kestrel has been an illusive bird. I frequently see Kestrels sitting on powerlines during my daily commutes. Since my primary goal is to capture wildlife in a natural setting until this encounter my files contained very few Kestrel images and none without the omnipresent wire.

While sitting on our deck last evening I noticed a Kestrel high in the sky hovering as it searched the ground for prey. With the sun at my back I grabbing the camera and began shooting each time the bird stopped in mid air. The Kestrel would hunt for 10-15 minutes hovering over different spots in the meadow behind my house and then fly to a distant cedar tree and rest in its top branches. After a short rest it would again resume hunting. This image was the best I obtained. The shot is heavily cropped as the distance was too far for the 400mm to do its best work.

This evening I again observed the Kestrel but with clouds covering the sun the bird was not lit well so I contented myself with watching. After hovering a few times the Kestrel stopped nearly directly high over my head. Hovering for a moment it then dropped down about half way, hovering again momentarily and then plunged into the high grass of the meadow some thirty yards from the deck. I watch intently and was rewarded a minute later when the Kestrel rose from the grass and flew to the tree line carrying prey in its talons. From the size and color of the prey I am pretty sure that it had caught a mole.

Maybe another evening with better light will give me the close-up image that presented itself tonight but for now I am content with the image posted here and the memories of the Kestrel’s successful hunt.

Full Stomach: Red-tailed Hawk

When this Red-tailed Hawk flew up from along the creek my first impression was that there was something wrong with its profile. As it wheeled through the air it appeared healthy and strong and I thought no more about it until later when examining the images I had captured.

If you look closely you will find the birds crop distended greatly. I believe my intrusion caused the hawk to leave its kill but at least I didn’t spook it until it had filled its stomach.

Hunting Harrier

Returning home yesterday morning from a fairly uneventful wildlife photo outing (yes I do encounter those too) I noticed this female Northern Harrier hunting over the field behind my home. I quickly set my camera bag on the deck and scooped out the 30D with the 100-400mm attached, hurried to the back of the deck as the Harrier circled and came in low once more.

Northern Harriers also known as Marsh Hawks are large birds with a 1 meter wing span and an owl like face. When hunting they fly close to the ground watching and listening intently. Moments later as this bird passed into a neighboring field, its effort paid off when she dropped to the ground capturing something. I could not distinguish what she had caught. After feeding for a few seconds she again took flight and disappeared into the distance.

Red -Shouldered Hawk

The Red-shouldered hawk is once again another of my Overstreet captures. I first spotted the hawk sitting on a fence post near Lake Kissimmee. Soon it flew a short distance towards me settling down on a fence post standing among the high reeds. The mid-afternoon lighting was all wrong but the situation improved when the hawk once again took to the air.

Camera Critters: Redtailed Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawks are year-around residents of our area. Frequently they are seen perched high in a tree or on a utility pole where they can survey their surroundings, spotting prey and keeping a sharp look-out for danger. Seldom does an encounter with one of these majestic birds offer a good photographic opportunity.

This encounter, although near enough, did not afford me the quality of image that I seek but I though it acceptable to share. The encounter occurred in early morning with low light levels in the forest. I am pleased that it turned out as good as it did considering I shot it hand-held with the 400mm lens, ISO 800, at 1/30th of a second. This image would have been totally impossible without image stabilization.

For more Camera Critters click Here

A pair of Hawks soar high among the threatening clouds

For more Sky Watch and to join in visit the gang by clicking the Sky Watch logo at the top of this post.

Dinner Guest: Red-tailed Hawk

While my wife & I dined on our deck this evening I noticed two raptors in the sky. One was quite high wheeling in circles with the other much lower approaching directly towards our home. As the nearer bird passed overhead, I realized that it was a mature Bald Eagle. What an inopportune time for my camera to be in the house!

Hoping for another fly-over I retrieved my camera in time for the other bird, a Red-tailed hawk to pass by. This evening proved to be a painful reminder to never leave the camera behind.

Red-Tailed Hawk, close but no Great Image

Monday morning, shortly before I encountered the flock of robins, I spotted this Red-Tail perched on a branch, completely exposed. As I brought the car to a stop the hawk swooped off of its perch flying about fifty yards to alight in this tree where a number of branches provided cover. Not only had the distance increased but shooting through the brush made focusing quite difficult.

This is the best photograph I have obtained of a Red-tailed hawk. The colors in the photograph are extremely warm as it was taken while the morning sun was rising above the horizon.

Hopefully, someday I will have an opportunity to capture some truly good photographs of one of these majestic hawks.

Harassed

I captured this shot of what I believe to be a Red Tail Hawk while three crows were harassing it. The crows stayed far enough from the hawk that I could not capture them in the same shot. I cannot say I blame the crows for keeping their distance. If I were a crow I would stay clear of the razor sharp talons too!

Canon 30D – EF 100-400L