The Hint of Spring

Gallery: AvianPosted February 18, 2015265 views14 comments

Cooper's Hawk with a hint of green intruding into my frame, with its plumage slightly raised.
I watched the raptor catch a songbird, with its back to me of course..
It flew up from the ground, and landed behind some brush to finish it off. No clear shot was possible. Here it has come back 10 minutes later to gloat

F/10, 1/400th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 18, 2015 at 12:22 PM

Sweet frame. I enjoy the back side view with the nice head turn. The perch diagonal adds a nice compositional element. Nicely captured

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on February 18, 2015 at 12:33 PM

Yes- my favourte pose too. Much like our Sparrow hawk.
Nice one.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on February 18, 2015 at 12:56 PM

Like how the hawk separates from the background and the background is gorgeous

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Rose on February 18, 2015 at 2:42 PM

Very nice Howard! They are amazing birds. I hope to get a shot like yours someday.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 58 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 18, 2015 at 3:22 PM

Excellent as posted.

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

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on February 18, 2015 at 4:40 PM

That hypnotic raptor stare - beautifully captured!

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 18, 2015 at 9:09 PM

Excellent Howard! Nice angled perch and pleasing background. Feather detail is great, wonderful shot.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 19, 2015 at 1:36 AM

It does looked pretty pleased with itself, now you mention it. What a beautiful bird– one I've not seen. The red eye is pretty dramatic. Fun you got to watch it hunting even though a shot was not available. Worth waiting for this one! Good going, Howard.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 19, 2015 at 8:21 AM

Cool bird Howard very well presented.

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 19, 2015 at 10:39 AM

Nice background, nice pose and nice perch. A tad more room up top is all I have to suggest. Great capture.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 19, 2015 at 9:50 PM

Hi Howard,

You captured this Coopers hawk perfectly. It is wonderful that you were able to get the hawk in front of a nice smooth background. The diagonal composition and the touch of green in the BG suggests that Spring is not far away (It was only -9 here in Michigan this morning!). Well done

......................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on February 21, 2015 at 11:56 AM

Lovely relaxed pose ,those eyes are never relaxed, very nice indeed.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on February 22, 2015 at 7:10 PM

Howard,
Too bad the bird was so secretive about what it was doing, but at least it finally gave you the over the shoulder head turn. Just like a movie star.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 25, 2015 at 8:58 PM

Beautiful shot of this Cooper's Howard, the red eye shows up nicely. If you have any more room on top or bottom this would make a nice vertical too.

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