Cooper's Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted October 21, 2012189 views19 comments

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
Date: July 6, 2012, 7:54 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E III (2x), Gitzo 1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
ISO 400, aperture priority spot metered, 1/30th @ f/8
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 45% of frame
Not set up, not baited, no cloning, no noise reduction

Another in my series of a juvie Cooper's Hawk at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I started at this low ISO but cranked it up afterwards to boost the shutter speed.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Large versoin provided as always.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 21, 2012 at 7:01 PM

Very nice Richard, good detail especially considering just 1/30. I like the interesting texture of the perch and the smooth background that helps keep the attention on this youngster. Well done!!!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 21, 2012 at 7:03 PM

I really love that blue eye and this is a nice shot of the bird unobscured.

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

Comment posted by Jim Nall on October 21, 2012 at 7:14 PM

Richard, in all honesty, I like this capture very much! Nice pose, detail, sharpness and bgnd. Great subject well done!

Registered on October 5, 2012, 45 Posts, 168 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on October 21, 2012 at 7:39 PM

Great shot on Coopers Hawk day.

Perhaps you know, do the eye colors change as they mature? Jim Nalls coopers has a yellowish tan iris.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 21, 2012 at 7:40 PM

Richard,
I agree with all the comments so fa, Well Done.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 21, 2012 at 7:44 PM

Perhaps you know, do the eye colors change as they mature? Jim Nalls coopers has a yellowish tan iris.

Yes. Their iris is pale blue only on birds just out of the nest, and this is such a short period that it isn't even mentioned in the major field guides. Within a couple months the eye becomes yellow as in Jim's photo. Adults has eyes that are orange-red in color.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 21, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Great pose and the detail is excellent, nice one Richard.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on October 21, 2012 at 8:20 PM

Nice look at the eye, and very good detail., Good work as usual. I do find myself wanting to see the tail to add some depth, but a minor nit . Well done!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 21, 2012 at 8:57 PM

Excellent detail at 1/30th Rich. I like the pose on this perch against the light creamy background-nicely captured and composed.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on October 21, 2012 at 11:53 PM

Nice closeup view. His eye really catches your eye!

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on October 22, 2012 at 12:02 AM

Richard, I really like the blue eye in this, I have never seen this before. The bird and the tree are good & sharp while the blurred background really emphasizes the subject. Nice image!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on October 22, 2012 at 4:06 AM

Richard i would have to look very hard to find a fault with this excellent image.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 22, 2012 at 1:57 PM

Excellent capture Richard. Excellent detail despite the slow shutter speed.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 22, 2012 at 6:42 PM

Great look at that unusually colored eye Rich. Very well done, esp at that SS.

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

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on October 22, 2012 at 7:12 PM

Lovely shot Richard - the eye makes this shot IMO,
Greg

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 23, 2012 at 10:33 PM

Good looking bird and I love the blue eye. You did an excellent job with sharpness, especially with 1/30s. Given the setting, I think I would have tried to get a bit lower to shoot the image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 25, 2012 at 9:41 AM

Very nice viewed large, the eye is very clear and SHARP Rich