Well I’m moving on up in the world. This year I discovered that I don’t have to take my bird pictures from the basement window. By judicious placement of the Christmas tree, next to our picture windows, I’m able to use it as a bird blind. I can even sit in my rocking chair and listen to NPR while waiting for the birds. Unfortunately my wife has already informed me that the tree will not remain in this position beyond the first of the year. I’m thinking maybe I could put up a turkey blind in the living room?
I just sat down to watch the birds when this fellow appeared. He made a single pass but didn’t catch anything. He then posed for pictures before slamming himself into some bushes in an attempt to catch a chickadee. I didn’t think he would be able to disentangle himself from the bushes but he did sans chickadee.
Here are a few additional bird pictures from the last few days.
Posted by Laurie Braman on December 6, 2007 at 1:13 AM
Very nice photo. How close were you and what lens did you use? I have several of Coopers Hawks, but nothing this close.
Laurie
Posted by Chuck Beatty on December 6, 2007 at 7:45 AM
He's a beauty, Philip. Nicely captured. The catch light in his eye makes the image for me.
How does your wife feel about camo net drapes?
I used to do a lot of raptor rehab in Virginia and Texas. One day I was driving a dirt back road in northern Virginia with a Coop that was ready for release. I came to a spot with perfect cover, trees, lots of birds and thought, "This looks like perfect Cooper's Hawk habitat." At that instance a big female Coop flew right in front of my windshield, slammed into the bush next to the car, grabbed a sparrow, gave me "the look" and flew off. We drove on.
I used a Tamron 2000-500mm lens at about 400mm. I was probably 15 feet away, hence the need for the blind. It was just luck that I was able to get the shot. I have seen Cooper’s Hawks at the feeder before but never had the camera ready. As I said I just sat down to watch the birds when he showed up.
I like the idea of the cameo drapes. I could probably try and sell the idea of having earth tones to match the carpet.
Posted by Tim Mulholland on December 6, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Very nice, Phil!
I wish the hawks around here would stop at window level; how did you say that you trained this hawk?? ;)
Tim!
Posted by Mitch Erwin on December 6, 2007 at 1:22 PM
Phil,
Great close up of this specimen! I can never get that close to any raptors hardly ever either!
Discussion
5 repliesI just sat down to watch the birds when this fellow appeared. He made a single pass but didn’t catch anything. He then posed for pictures before slamming himself into some bushes in an attempt to catch a chickadee. I didn’t think he would be able to disentangle himself from the bushes but he did sans chickadee.
Here are a few additional bird pictures from the last few days.
Laurie
How does your wife feel about camo net drapes?
I used to do a lot of raptor rehab in Virginia and Texas. One day I was driving a dirt back road in northern Virginia with a Coop that was ready for release. I came to a spot with perfect cover, trees, lots of birds and thought, "This looks like perfect Cooper's Hawk habitat." At that instance a big female Coop flew right in front of my windshield, slammed into the bush next to the car, grabbed a sparrow, gave me "the look" and flew off. We drove on.
I like the idea of the cameo drapes. I could probably try and sell the idea of having earth tones to match the carpet.
I wish the hawks around here would stop at window level; how did you say that you trained this hawk?? ;)
Tim!
Great close up of this specimen! I can never get that close to any raptors hardly ever either!