Darn, Missed Again! Immature Cooper's Hawk who just missed a meal.
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put out some fresh feed and peanuts. Then while reading and waiting for them to come around I heard a panic take off by a bunch of doves and looked out in time to see the doves leaving at warp speed and this hawk zoomed in, landed on the old swing set, moved to a few different places on the set then went to the fence on the East side of the yard. I shot over 50 frames, some with flash, some without then ended up deleting all but 19 for one reason or another - mostly focus or pose. Then all afternoon the hawk and a group of crows kept trading places in the yard. Less than 3 crows the hawk moved in, get up to about 5 or 6 crows and they moved in. Every so often some little birds or a few doves would come in under cover of the crows who were busy looting all the peanuts. This hawk has been hanging out in the trees in the yards on my block and scaring off the other birds.
Here he is setting on the fence looking down at the potted plants, bird bath and feeder like he is thinking about why he missed getting a meal this time.
5DIV, Tamron 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/400 @ f/8.0, ISO 1250 hand held at about 60' without flash, Center point AF with assist and spot meter - AF and meter both put on the hawk's body. Lite by warm afternoon sunlight from the right as oriented in this picture.
That's a beautiful photo, Robert.
I always stopped feeding the birds when a hawk started coming by. I felt too guilty.
Katydid wrote:
That's a beautiful photo, Robert.
I always stopped feeding the birds when a hawk started coming by. I felt too guilty.
Thank you
The hawk can't watch 100% of the time and a murder of crows can hassle him and drive or draw him away. Then the birds can come in to get food for a while.
Love the expression on his face.
CLF
Loc: Raleigh, NC
robertjerl wrote:
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put out some fresh feed and peanuts. Then while reading and waiting for them to come around I heard a panic take off by a bunch of doves and looked out in time to see the doves leaving at warp speed and this hawk zoomed in, landed on the old swing set, moved to a few different places on the set then went to the fence on the East side of the yard. I shot over 50 frames, some with flash, some without then ended up deleting all but 19 for one reason or another - mostly focus or pose. Then all afternoon the hawk and a group of crows kept trading places in the yard. Less than 3 crows the hawk moved in, get up to about 5 or 6 crows and they moved in. Every so often some little birds or a few doves would come in under cover of the crows who were busy looting all the peanuts. This hawk has been hanging out in the trees in the yards on my block and scaring off the other birds.
Here he is setting on the fence looking down at the potted plants, bird bath and feeder like he is thinking about why he missed getting a meal this time.
5DIV, Tamron 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/400 @ f/8.0, ISO 1250 hand held at about 60' without flash, Center point AF with assist and spot meter - AF and meter both put on the hawk's body. Lite by warm afternoon sunlight from the right as oriented in this picture.
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put ... (
show quote)
Jerry, excellent capture. Currently we have 3 inches of snow and it is not over by a long shot.
Greg
robertjerl wrote:
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put out some fresh feed and peanuts. Then while reading and waiting for them to come around I heard a panic take off by a bunch of doves and looked out in time to see the doves leaving at warp speed and this hawk zoomed in, landed on the old swing set, moved to a few different places on the set then went to the fence on the East side of the yard. I shot over 50 frames, some with flash, some without then ended up deleting all but 19 for one reason or another - mostly focus or pose. Then all afternoon the hawk and a group of crows kept trading places in the yard. Less than 3 crows the hawk moved in, get up to about 5 or 6 crows and they moved in. Every so often some little birds or a few doves would come in under cover of the crows who were busy looting all the peanuts. This hawk has been hanging out in the trees in the yards on my block and scaring off the other birds.
Here he is setting on the fence looking down at the potted plants, bird bath and feeder like he is thinking about why he missed getting a meal this time.
5DIV, Tamron 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/400 @ f/8.0, ISO 1250 hand held at about 60' without flash, Center point AF with assist and spot meter - AF and meter both put on the hawk's body. Lite by warm afternoon sunlight from the right as oriented in this picture.
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put ... (
show quote)
Well done, my favourite lens for wildlife
Rick
robertjerl wrote:
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put out some fresh feed and peanuts. Then while reading and waiting for them to come around I heard a panic take off by a bunch of doves and looked out in time to see the doves leaving at warp speed and this hawk zoomed in, landed on the old swing set, moved to a few different places on the set then went to the fence on the East side of the yard. I shot over 50 frames, some with flash, some without then ended up deleting all but 19 for one reason or another - mostly focus or pose. Then all afternoon the hawk and a group of crows kept trading places in the yard. Less than 3 crows the hawk moved in, get up to about 5 or 6 crows and they moved in. Every so often some little birds or a few doves would come in under cover of the crows who were busy looting all the peanuts. This hawk has been hanging out in the trees in the yards on my block and scaring off the other birds.
Here he is setting on the fence looking down at the potted plants, bird bath and feeder like he is thinking about why he missed getting a meal this time.
5DIV, Tamron 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/400 @ f/8.0, ISO 1250 hand held at about 60' without flash, Center point AF with assist and spot meter - AF and meter both put on the hawk's body. Lite by warm afternoon sunlight from the right as oriented in this picture.
I noticed the birds weren't around again so I put ... (
show quote)
Gorgeous Robert! We have hawks fly thru every now, and they are so majestic. I know how one of the other posters feels when she mentioned about not feeding the birds due to the hawks, I too feel bad to see them take off with a bird in their talons, but it's the circle of life and I have to look at it as such. We did have a hawk get a baby squirrel last spring, and I felt really bad about that one, but my dogs had also done in a squirrel or two, I keep telling myself, it's the circle of life. It's a fabulous photograph and I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Diocletian wrote:
Love the expression on his face.
Yes, I imagine he is thinking "This eating stuff isn't as easy as Mom and Dad made it look! I'm hungry."
CLF wrote:
Jerry, excellent capture. Currently we have 3 inches of snow and it is not over by a long shot.
Greg
Thank you.
Our daughter is at at the University of Virginia Medical School and this is her first time living where it snows and today her first day driving in it. She called "Mom" to ask for advice on driving in snow and to ask "Why is my car stalling when I try to leave the parking structure? She has never heard of "let it warm up" before you try to go anywhere. Born and grew up in So California where you either drive to the mountains (and Dad did all the driving) or fly to St Louis for Christmas to see snow. Here where we live a "cold" winter day is high 30s or more likely the 40s.
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