Caracara at lunch

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited January 7, 2010 in Wildlife
Recently I ran into a carcara enjoying a coot for lunch. For the unintiated the crested caracara is a member of the falcon family. Its usually found in the Gulf Coast States, Mexico and Cental America. Its the national bird of Mexico and is also known as the Mexican Eagle. Its main food source is carrion.

The pics were with the Nikon D3, the 300mm f/4 + 1.4 TC at ISO 400.

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Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    Wonderful capture Harry. clap.gifclap.gif I particularly like how you got low for these, which must have been tough for an old geezer like you rolleyes1.gif:D

    Happy New Year bud.
    Dan
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    Thanks Dan.

    The low angle was tough. My knees are shot so there's no way I can kneel low anymore. Fortunately the caracara was on top of the road and both sides grade down so I opted for the side that had the sun over my shoulder and made my approach from that side. The only problem is that my knees don't do elevation changes well especially w/o my cane. I just rolled the dice, the knees will blow out again sooner or later and it may as well be while I'm getting a capture. Fortunately I got the captures and my knees just complained (they are such whiners) a bit but held up.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    El águila mexicana es magnífica, Señor Harry! clap.gifthumb
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    El águila mexicana es magnífica, Señor Harry! clap.gifthumb

    Danke Rich.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • RKnechtRKnecht Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    Wow Harry, these are great. Please don't tell me you got these when you were at Vierra on Sunday. I went to Merrit on Monday and got to see the spoonbills and white pelicans. Then dropped off the wife and headed back to Viera to see if I could get any last minute images. BTW, it was great to meet you!
    A few Nikon bodies and some fast Nikon glass

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  • johncaroljohncarol Registered Users Posts: 11 Big grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    Hey Harry
    Long time no see. Really nice closeups of a pretty bird. Seems you are friends?

    john
    john

    NIKON $$$

    http://www.pbase.com/johncarol
  • rontront Registered Users Posts: 1,473 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    It sure does look like an Eagle! Great shots!

    Ron
    "The question is not what you look at, but what you see". Henry David Thoreau

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2009
    RKnecht wrote:
    Wow Harry, these are great. Please don't tell me you got these when you were at Vierra on Sunday. I went to Merrit on Monday and got to see the spoonbills and white pelicans. Then dropped off the wife and headed back to Viera to see if I could get any last minute images. BTW, it was great to meet you!

    Thanks Rich and I got these on 12/22.

    I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and it was great to meet and talk with you.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2009
    Glad to see you haven't lost the knack of getting excellent pics of these birds Mr B!
    Birds
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  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2009
    Wow, Great captures Harry. The second and third are over the top with that low angle and the eye contact. Great job as always..... clap.gif
    My Photo Gallery
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2009
    johncarol wrote:
    Long time no see. Really nice closeups of a pretty bird. Seems you are friends?

    john

    Thanks John, its always great to hear rom ya.

    I've been shooting this pair of caracaras for about five years now. This one was the female. We do seem to have formed a working relationship.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2009
    ront wrote:
    It sure does look like an Eagle! Great shots!

    Ron

    Thanks Ron.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2009
    Excellent shots as usual, Harry. Especially the 2nd one.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • alexfalexf Registered Users Posts: 436 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2009
    Excellent set Harry!
    AlexFeldsteinPhotography.com
    Nikon D700, D300, D80 and assorted glass, old and new.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2010
    BigAl wrote:
    Glad to see you haven't lost the knack of getting excellent pics of these birds Mr B!

    Always great to hear from you, Al. wave.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2010
    Great series...a very photogenic falcon if I do say so myself.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2010
    Nice Harry
    He is a piggy..lol
    Great bird
    Love to shoot them
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2010
    IraRunyan wrote:
    Wow, Great captures Harry. The second and third are over the top with that low angle and the eye contact. Great job as always..... clap.gif

    Thanks Ira. A couple of days ago I saw the pair in flight carryimg nesting material.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2010
    Ahh Food shots :eat always pump up the juices :Dthumb.gif
    Benjamin
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2010
    bfjr wrote:
    Ahh Food shots :eat always pump up the juices :Dthumb.gif

    Great hearing from ya Ben. I missed you. Love the images you posted in the best of 2009. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2010
    IraRunyan wrote:
    Wow, Great captures Harry. The second and third are over the top with that low angle and the eye contact. Great job as always..... clap.gif

    Thank you very much Ira.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2010
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Excellent shots as usual, Harry. Especially the 2nd one.


    Thanks Glenn.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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