Cooper’s Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted January 17, 2016108 views3 comments

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Place: Bosque del Apache, NM
Date: December 4, 2015, 3:14 pm
Equipment: Nikon D7200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 plus TC20E III (2x), bean bag from car window
ISO 800, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/500th @ f/11
Raw, PS CC 2015 on Mac, 58% of frame

I enjoy my visits to Bosque del Apache in New Mexico for the variety of species, and I spend most of my time slowly driving both loops instead of hanging out at crane or goose concentration points.

This Cooper's Hawk was found in the afternoon on the Farm Loop. I could see it ahead of me, so stopped and go my gear ready. It moved a little south of me as I approached so I looked carefully in the area where I thought it would be,

Most interesting for me is the way the hawk has positioned itself in a “cage” of small branches: I have no idea how it flew into this spot. I think that “makes the image.” I know some would prefer an unrestricted view of the hawk – I have lots of shots of other coop’s in the clear but only this one instance of “Coop in a cage.”

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

Comments

3 comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 17, 2016 at 1:28 PM

This is an unusual presentation of the hawk. But you have done a good job of separating it from the smooth BG. The light on the body and the shadows of the branches are very nice.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM

Nice job getting isolating this Richard. With all the branches, this could have looked real busy, but your isolation with the entire branch and the rest of the BG makes it work along with the Cooper's head making its way out of the branches. BTW, in two trips, I didn't see one Coopers this year. I think it was the first time I haven't seen a Coopers at Bosque in many visits.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 18, 2016 at 1:08 PM

Your placement of the hawk in the cage works well. I have seen them in even thicker brush. Maybe they think they are hidden from possible prey? Neat image of this behavior. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments