A Kite and two Falcons: All seen in California's Central Valley on autotours. I like raptors as most of them aren't skittish and are easy to photograph from the car. Although they are...

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

All seen in California's Central Valley on autotours. I like raptors as most of them aren't skittish and are easy to photograph from the car. Although they are born killers, they sometimes look sweet. I still haven't come to terms with watching them eat their prey. My new window beanbag has helped alot in steadying my lens.

juvenile White-tailed Kite
juvenile White-tailed Kite...

(Download)

(Download)

Merlin, a small falcon, female

(Download)

(Download)

Peregrine Falcon, a killer of other birds

(Download)

mrpentaxk5ii

Well done!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Very WELL done Katydid ! ......thanks for sharing

I do not use bean bags - where any movement can change focus or zoom. Instead I use what I call a carpod - which is basically a monopod positioned on the floor of the car between the door and seat - with appropriate tilt head attached to tripod collar to help aim and support - no chance of changing lens settings.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

#1, #3, #4 and #5 are my favorites. Very nice!

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

mrpentaxk5ii wrote:

Well done!

Thanks, mrpentax!

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

imagemeister wrote:

Very WELL done Katydid ! ......thanks for sharing

I do not use bean bags - where any movement can change focus or zoom. Instead I use what I call a carpod - which is basically a monopod positioned on the floor of the car between the door and seat - with appropriate tilt head attached to tripod collar to help aim and support - no chance of changing lens settings.

Thanks, imagemeister! I am trying to imagine your car setup. Sounds as if it is successful for you. The beanbag is HEAVY and I try to keep the window down so it doesn't break the window mechanism. Filled with rice and beans!

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

JeffDavidson wrote:

#1, #3, #4 and #5 are my favorites. Very nice!

Thanks for your reply, Jeff.

Bill_de Loc: US

Very nice set!

--

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

Bill_de wrote:

Very nice set!

--

Thanks, Bill!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Katydid wrote:

Thanks, imagemeister! I am trying to imagine your car setup. Sounds as if it is successful for you. The beanbag is HEAVY and I try to keep the window down so it doesn't break the window mechanism. Filled with rice and beans!

With the carpod you can raise it to facilitate shooting up high at birds in trees.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Enjoyed your handsome birds very much! The kite is in such an interesting setting, very cool.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Katydid wrote:

All seen in California's Central Valley on autotours. I like raptors as most of them aren't skittish and are easy to photograph from the car. Although they are born killers, they sometimes look sweet. I still haven't come to terms with watching them eat their prey. My new window beanbag has helped alot in steadying my lens.

Nice set.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Nice photos Katydid, absolutely love the Kite. Hard to get a Kite (Swallowtail or Snail) to sit & pose here in Florida but I'll keep trying. The Merlin looks like the American Kestrel and apparently about the same size....shaking his/her bootie, beautiful bird.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

imagemeister wrote:

Very WELL done Katydid ! ......thanks for sharing

I do not use bean bags - where any movement can change focus or zoom. Instead I use what I call a carpod - which is basically a monopod positioned on the floor of the car between the door and seat - with appropriate tilt head attached to tripod collar to help aim and support - no chance of changing lens settings.

imagemeister, agree with you on the beanbag, minute changes can happen depending on the positioning of the lens....have you ever used a 'window' pod?

Tikva Loc: Waukesha, WI

Excellent series of photos. They are so interesting, but I don't want to see them catching and eating other birds. I know this is the circle of life, I just don't want to watch it.