Cooper's vs Cottontail

Gallery: AvianPosted February 1, 2011451 views22 comments

Here is the last of my series from late December at Montrose Beach in Chicago. This was a very rare chance to see a raptor in action especially with an abnormally large prey item. Everyone asks what happened to the rabbit in the end. What I can say is that while I was there for about 15 minutes, the hawk made several attacks, but never could figure out where or how to grab the rabbit. It was just too big. The rabbit ended up wedged under a bush with the hawk perched above it and a group of crows watching nearby. Montrose can have a variety of birds, including several types of hawks and owls. So, maybe this rabbit got lucky, but I would think the end was near regardless.

Canon 50D
Canon 70-200mm L IS II
ISO 320, 1/4000 @ f/4
Av Mode, 0 comp
LR3.3, adjusted sharpness, fill light, small crop, curves

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 1, 2011 at 11:10 AM

This was photographed with a 200mm lens? Amazing... I really like the frozen action of the hawk and the upturned lookof teh rabit - captures all the drama. Way to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime event

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

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on February 1, 2011 at 11:15 AM

Yep 200mm! I know it's crazy, but this literally happened right next to my car as I was putting away my other camera and 600mm lens. Just happened to have my 50D and new 70-200mm sitting on my seat. I actually thought of leaving that combo behind when I left that morning. Good thing I re-thought that. Guess what I always bring with me now?

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 1, 2011 at 11:21 AM

Great action capture Bryan, I would be ecstatic to have captured something like this especially this good. The one obvious OOF snow ring above the bird's tail does distract me some and I would suggest cloning it out. Amazing shot!!!

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 1, 2011 at 11:49 AM

Great moment captured

I was thinking, it's a shame the focus was on the rabbit instead of the hawk.But the more i look at it, the more i like it as is.

Well done

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Cherwenuk on February 1, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Great capture. I love the way the action was captured, if it wasn't for your detail about how this turned out it would leave me wanting to know. Excellent job!!

Registered on January 8, 2011, 6 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 1, 2011 at 1:50 PM

Great image and great experience.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 1, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Another superb capture, Bryan.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on February 1, 2011 at 3:24 PM

Amazing capture what a sight to see very well caught and good exposure

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 1, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Bryan,
great moment you captured here. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Ryan Marshik on February 1, 2011 at 4:13 PM

I'm selling my 600!
Love the sharp eye on the Cooper's, snow looks great
Wonder about a touch more saturation - Yellows?

Fantastic!

Registered on February 1, 2011, 10 Posts, 103 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 1, 2011 at 6:11 PM

A great behavioural image.
Great camera work.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 1, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Another very interesting shot in the series Bryan. I was very, very surprised that a Cooper's would make an attempt on a rabbit but since you said earlier that the rabbit "clearly had something wrong with it and could only run in tight circles" my suspicion is that such behavior might trigger an attack from even an atypical predator of rabbits. Quite an opportunity for you!

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on February 1, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Quite the series, Bryan. I am always amazed at a rabbit's ability and tenacity to survive. I see jackrabbits every day on the way to work... seemingly unaffected by severely cold temperatures, etc. Perhaps he lived to see another few days.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 1, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Not quite as strong as your earlier posts, but still an amazing capture. The Cooper's doesn't even have his claws extended to try. I'll go further than Ron: I'm stunned to see a Cooper's chasing a full-grown rabbit. I'd infer either an inexperienced juvie (and the eye color suggests that) or a starving bird.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 1, 2011 at 9:43 PM

I've really enjoyed seeing these, Bryan. great action here, with the rabbit falling over and the coop nearly on it. nice comp here. The bird is certainly a first year bird, with streaky underparts in December. A lot of hawks don't make it through their first year, so it could well be desperate.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 1, 2011 at 10:49 PM

Hi Bryan

Another superb action shot

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on February 1, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Incredible action shot! I've only witnessed a few chase scenes and only one was close enough for a shot (but I didn't have a camera). When I think about the speed of this chase, I'm amazed you got this image. Well done!

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 2, 2011 at 1:54 AM

Another great catch Bryan!!! Awesome series too.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Fabrizio Moglia on February 2, 2011 at 5:45 PM

200 mm lens so you was very close the C.S.I.

Beautiful image and good white balancing.

Ciao, fabrizio.

Registered on January 18, 2011, 5 Posts, 28 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 2, 2011 at 8:06 PM

You certainly took full advantage of the great opportunity that presented itself to you - excellent job!

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

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on February 3, 2011 at 10:11 AM

Stunning action!!!!

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on February 3, 2011 at 4:26 PM

200mm weren't you a little bit far away? Luck must be helped and ability is essential to capture a scene like this. Well done

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments