My encounter with a hawk

[Ann McRae]

A pair of red tails live in the field next to my work. Apparently they return year after year. Friday I had my camera with me because I had a team shoot after work. I had an hour to use, so instead of going shopping I went in search of the hawk. Found her, and to my delight, she swooped at me several times. Unfortunately, the in focus shots are 100% crops, so I won't be printing them. Shooting her flying at me was very much like the 'shoot superman game' that windoze posted a few months ago!
http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/170738240-M.jpg

http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/170738245-M.jpg

http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/170738252-M.jpg

http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/170738262-M.jpg



http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/170738282-M.jpg

ann

[ShepsMom]

Ann, it looks like bird about to attack you :huh Excellent!!:bow

[Dick on Aruba]

Nice series Ann, well done.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

[Maestro]

Great shot with it coming at you. I sure wish the hawks would come at me. They just seem to run away from me. I must smell or something. :dunno:wink

[raptorcaptor]

Cool shots Ann! :thumb Just don't disturb her too much. Once she is used to your presence you will be able to get some really nice close shots of her being herself. Redtails will return to within 5 miles from where they were hatched.

[Ann McRae]

Hi Marina

Yep, as soon as I heard her wings I'd duck - want to go back and try again, maybe with a spotter so I have a better feel about how close she actually is to me.

ann

Ann, it looks like bird about to attack you :huh Excellent!!:bow

[dbaker1221]

nice captures:thumb

[Harryb]

Sensational captures Ann. You really nailed that focus for the shots to hold to a 100% crop so well. :clap

[Ann McRae]

Thanks, Dick.

ann

Nice series Ann, well done.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

[Ann McRae]

Thanks, Stephen - i was really surprised that she did swoop at me, and then I decided I had to take advantage. The field was full of gophers, so I was hopeful of a hunt shot, just didn't think i would be the prey!

ann

Great shot with it coming at you. I sure wish the hawks would come at me. They just seem to run away from me. I must smell or something. :dunno:wink

[Ann McRae]

Great tips, Gene. These redtails are apparent fixtures, and seemed to arrive late April or early May. Last summer they went after a cooworkers jack Russell. I hope she does get used to me, though, as I'd love some shots of her without that cell phone tower in them.

ann


Cool shots Ann! :thumb Just don't disturb her too much. Once she is used to your presence you will be able to get some really nice close shots of her being herself. Redtails will return to within 5 miles from where they were hatched, and usually they will migrate north around march.



Miss Peregrine with her lunch! (She had it hidden near the trunk of the tree)

[Ann McRae]

Thanks, Dave.

ann

nice captures:thumb

[Ann McRae]

Thanks, Harry. When chimping I thought I'd missed them all. Any where she fills more fo the frame are OOF - she moves really fast and my tracking sucked. Would you be impressed if I told you these are handheld withthe 70 - 200?

ann


Sensational captures Ann. You really nailed that focus for the shots to hold to a 100% crop so well. :clap

[Ann McRae]

So my coworker has just identified the hawk as a Swainson's rather than a Red Tail, and I would have to agree based on photos of Red-tail (http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=68) here and Swainson's (http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=67) here.


ann

[raptorcaptor]

So my coworker has just identified the hawk as a Swainson's rather than a Red Tail, and I would have to agree based on photos of Red-tail (http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=68) here and Swainson's (http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=67) here.


ann

Extra cool then! :D I don't have any photos of a swainson's hawk!

[Netgarden]

Anne, I can't see the photos they are a red x today darn it.
I mistook a young red tail for a swainson, until someone pointed out the red tails dont have red tails when young. Easy to mix them up then. The juvenile red tails look alot like swainson hawks when young. You might add juvenile to your google search. :thumb