Roadside Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted February 8, 2010316 views24 comments

Olympus E-3, 300mm x 2.0TC, truck window
f5.7, 1/160, ISO800

Volcan, Panama, earlier today. After heavy tropical rainstorm (despite it being dry season), this Roadside Hawk was trying to dry himself off. The clouds are low and dark, and the light is pretty bad, but the birds are terrific.

C & C, please.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 8, 2010 at 8:24 PM

I LOVE it Jim. Poor bird looks drenched and you've captured that very well. I like the wide-eyed look, like "whoa, what happened?" I've seen and photographed this behavior in red-tails when they get wet in morning fog but your image is much better than any I have.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 8, 2010 at 8:26 PM

Great colors and textures Jim - bird looks pretty unhappy - wondering what the heck happened to the "dry" season. Are you renting the 600? I seem to remember you always having the 300

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 8, 2010 at 8:28 PM

I love it too Jim! Because of the bird's wet appearance I feel a nice connection with the bird, not sure why. I like the light, the setting, the nice details and especially the one water droplet on the barbed wire.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 8, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Jim:
It's an awesome shot. I love the light greens and reds as a background for the dark bird, the perch, the vegetation on the post, the water droplets on the barbs of the wire, etc., etc.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 8, 2010 at 9:56 PM

Cool photo! I lived in Panama for 3 years when I was younger and I remember seeing these guys...my Mom always took us to watch the birds and buzzards after church on Sunday. Sometimes they would have huge snakes in their talons. I love the soggy look of the bird and the nice colors. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 8, 2010 at 10:37 PM

I actually like the light here Jim. A very cool Hawk species to get. I'd take a touch more off the top to make it more of a rectangular crop.
Very nice !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 8, 2010 at 11:11 PM

This is fantastic, Jim! I think the light was not a hindrance at all.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on February 8, 2010 at 11:47 PM

I love it too. When I was down there I was poking fun at the creative name that was given to this raptor. Wish I would have seen one! Only suggestion would be to crop a little off the top, otherwise everything else is very nice. Hopefully it was a brief shower.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 9, 2010 at 12:47 AM

I really like the saturated colors on the hawk, the red and black banding is very cool. He looks a bit overwhelmed with being wet and having his pic taken. Nice clarity and detail.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 9, 2010 at 2:07 AM

Excellent image Jim, I like the bedraggled look, head angle, lovely background; and juxtaposition of perfect "setup-like" perch and barbed wire.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 9, 2010 at 9:04 AM

great shot, Jim! I love the soaked, bedraggled look here. nice DOF, and a really cool lichen-covered fence post.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Darren McKenna on February 9, 2010 at 9:31 AM

Beautiful species, I too don't think the light hurt this image. Possible candidate for a vertical crop.

darrenmckenna.com

Registered on October 28, 2008, 31 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 9, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Great image. Love the drenched Hawk. The moss on the perch is the perfect perch for this.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 9, 2010 at 12:28 PM

Love the open wings. He almost looks like he is just home from a hunt. Nice shot.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on February 9, 2010 at 12:29 PM

This is great Jim. I love the pose and look of this bird. There was one in S Texas a few years ago that I spent a day looking for and didn't find. I guess I have to go back to Panama. Have a great trip!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 9, 2010 at 1:14 PM

Jim,
I really like the pose and the perch. The background is great too. Excellent work!!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 9, 2010 at 1:25 PM

Sad lookin guy hah? I love the detail in the wings as well as his colors. That eye is great

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 9, 2010 at 2:22 PM

The light works well here IMO Jim. Excellent pose too.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 9, 2010 at 5:37 PM

Jim, that is one wet hawk. I feel for it. I like the feel of this image. I wish I was with you. Looks like a great place for birds.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 9, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Awesome, Jim. The subdued light really shows off the detail.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on February 9, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Love the feathers in this one Jim!!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on February 10, 2010 at 5:55 AM

That bird has had a better hair day! Although the birds are out in all weathers we don't capture many images like this but I think it looks very expressive. Lovely detail on the bird and the few water droplets add to the realism of the moment. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 10, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Very nice! Great pose and nice colors with excellent detail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 12, 2010 at 3:08 PM

Love the wet pose and the mossy fence post, great shot Jim

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments