Wonderful photos!

I have the Canon 7D Mark II with the 100-400mm IS II lens and have posted a few photos recently. I am sorry if this duplicates prior discussion but I was wondering if others who have this setup have found the sweet spot for this lens in good light primarily for stationary birds? I mostly shoot in aperture priority at f/9. Others?
Joe

I took this American Bittern last month at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in southern California. I was lucky to get this elusive bird out in the open.

Thank you, Dixiegirl.

Cameranut:
I don't know where you are in NC but my sources say that Loggerhead Shrikes occur in southern and eastern NC and less in the western and northern parts of the state. I just wish I had some of the beautiful songbirds that breed in your area in the spring and summer.
Thanks for appreciating my photo.
Joe

Lilo:
Great shots of the Peregrine; especially in flight. What camera and lens setup are you using? Thanks for posting.
Joe

Carolina Wings:
Nice photos of the juvenile Cooper's Hawk and the Eastern Bluebird. By the way, I also shoot with a Canon 7D Mk II but I use the 100-400mm IS II lens. Thanks for posting.
Joe

This photo was taken on 3-5-16 at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Bill:
In both species the females are larger; as a consequence, a male Cooper's and a female Sharpie are very similar in size. I have studied these two species and use the head, eye placement, neck, legs and tail as potential diagnostics. I have taken hundreds of photos of Coops and still find identifying these two accipiters challenging.
Thanks for sharing.
J

Bill:
Thanks for the further information which was helpful. I cannot be certain but your photo looks like a juvenile Cooper's to me. Nice photo, by the way.
Joe

I took this photo yesterday at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

When one attempts to diagnose between a Cooper's Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk, one almost always is compelled to use multiple field marks because they are so similar. Your photograph is clearly a juvenile as illustrated by the breast plumage and yellow eyes. The tail and legs are also different between the two but the photo does not reveal these. Were the legs really thin (suggesting a Sharpie)? Also, where and at what time of year did you see this bird? It is important because Sharpies retreat northward in the spring from southern areas. They are generally only found in southern climes in mountainous areas. The range of Cooper's is more extensive. Hope this helps a little.
Joe