Posted by Brian Vance on January 3, 2009 at 7:24 PM
I caught this bird lurking near winter feeders in the neighbor's backyard a couple weeks ago. I was on the internet one minute and working my longest lens on the camera the next. This bird was very cooperative, and I was able to take several shots from my open door wall, then closer and closer until I was 20' away. This is a pretty good crop, but I was still able to get some decent feather detail. Comments welcome.
40D, 100-400 LIS @400, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 400 +.7 ev,, handheld, no flash
Fine job. Good catch. Evidently you look out the window a lot while on the internet. Catch shots like this and it is alright by me.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on January 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Very nice catch, Brian...good details in the feathers and a catch light. Had a Red Tailed hawk here a few days ago perched in a tree for a few minutes, but no chance to get any shots.
Posted by Brian Vance on January 4, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Kendall, I do indeed look out the windows a lot! I especially notice bird activity and look up whenever a shadow or something moving enters my peripheral vision. In this instance, it paid off, as this is my best in species so far for sharpies. This one was willing to stick around when most fly off as soon as the door opens.
Nice catch. Great colors. I've seen a few fly in out of the sun this winter. I keep thinking of the air war in WWII the way they come in with the sun behind them.
Posted by Chuck Beatty on January 7, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Beautiful plumage and so well captured. Nice that she hung around for a portrait. I scared up a Cooper's the other day, but all I saw were tail feathers heading away.
Posted by Brian Vance on January 7, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Many thanks for the comments! Chuck, I have found that while 9 out of 10 raptors in any given species will fly off at the first sign of a human approaching, there are a few who seem to tolerate an approaching presence. I have no idea why this is, but I've noticed it across a variety of hawk species. As a result, I am persistent in approaching and every once in a while, like this instance, it pays off!
Nice shot. I have a sharpie that hangs around my feeders. When there is no activity at the feeders it is a good chance that the Sharp-shinned is in the neighborhood. I'm told that when on one leg like this it means they are very content. You must not have bothered it very much.
Discussion
7 replies40D, 100-400 LIS @400, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 400 +.7 ev,, handheld, no flash
Kathi Cunningham
Ames, Iowa