robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

More of my "long range" closeups.

For about 3 1/2 days no sign of the hawk(s) anywhere around and coming and going all day mobs of Little Brown Birds, Doves, Band Tailed Pigeons and Crows/Ravens from time to time. I was filling the feeders twice a day and with the newly mown lawn the ground feeding insect eaters were joining in.

Then about 11:30 this morning I looked out and only one bird in sight.
This one = young Cooper's Hawk looking around in a puzzled manner at the empty feeders "Huh? There were dozens of snacks here just before I arrived. Where did they all go?"

So I took a few frames thought the double paned glass of the sliding door "just in case" and then slowly slid the door open - the hawk glanced at me and kept looking around. So in honor of the dim cloudy weather I took a few with fill flash which he glanced at and then ignored. (the flash warmed up the weathered gray wood of the old swing set/play fort) But as I reached around to back off the zoom wide enough to try for some flight shots that would include the whole hawk when it took off it saw my hand and arm move and took off straight towards the house across the pool in between and zoomed up to go over the house. Too quick for me to react and try for a flight shot. The birds attempted to come back for a while but kept doing an emergency scramble and finally gave up. The rest of the day only a few and mostly hummers at the nectar feeders. As my wife told me once "The hawks save you money on birdseed."

Canon 80D, 100-400L mk2+1.4x III @ 560mm, 1/2000 @ f/8, ISO-5000
on tripod at about 35 feet

80D, 100-400L+1.4x III @ 280mm, 1/2000 @ f/7.1, ISO-400
on tripod at about 35 feet with settings for High Speed Sync on the flash

(Download)


(Download)

RayE Loc: New Jersey

Very nice.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Great shots. I actually prefer the weathered grey background.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks
Yes, that is the natural color. The flash really warmed up the tones. The flash is several years old and has been used a lot, maybe it is dying.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awesome pair of shots

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks very much

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Attractive hawk image.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

thanks much