I hung up on my wife...

kdog

I literally hung up on her when I looked out my office window, and saw this fella looking right in at me! The camera was within reach, so I fumbled around furiously trying to get a couple of shots off, and this is what I got. ISO800, F5.6, 1/500s, through a dirty window on a completely drab day. Is this cool or what?





Those were the only two half-way decent shots I managed to get before he got spooked and took off. But still, I feel like I won the lottery. You have to understand I've spent a lot of time tracking these birds trying to get a shot, and here one literally lands in my lap.

Oh yeah, and I'm pretty sure it's a juvenile red tail hawk.

Cheers,
-joel

Thusie

Don'tch just love it when something like that happens:D Nice

Osprey Whisperer

Nice Joel. Let's face it...wildlife shooting involves a good bit of "luck". Better to be lucky with the birds than stuck shooting landscapes. :uhoh

bfjr

I dig when stuff like this happens
and you did very well indeed!

the 1st shot is very good and interesting look he/she is giving you

Ric Grupe

Too cool! :

The unexpected is always gratifying.

Angelo

If these are "half way decent" then I don't know what perfection is!!!
Fantastic captures

kdog

Thanks Thusie, Mike, Ben and Ric!

I really appreciate the comments, and still can't believe this really happened.

Regards,
-joel

kdog

Angelo wrote:

If these are "half way decent" then I don't know what perfection is!!!
Fantastic captures

Aw shucks. You're way too kind Angelo.

Thank you.
-joel

sthig

nice work, those are really really cool shots

snapapple

Wow! That first one is super.
And you can say, "I took this at the office." Amazing!

BrettG

Score!

I just looked out my office window, but no luck :cry

So... did the wife call back?

System

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

Nice Joel. Let's face it...wildlife shooting involves a good bit of "luck". Better to be lucky with the birds than stuck shooting landscapes. :uhoh

hey!! I like landcapes!!-

sheesh! just 'cause some people can't take photos unless the tree is standing still!-

Thusie

gefillmore wrote:

sheesh! just 'cause some people can't take photos unless the tree is standing still!-

George go to your room

dallas

Congrats Joel, but I see a major problem with the photos. NOW you'll never get any work done when you're to busy looking out the window for more hawks. : : : Hats off to you....to pick up your camera that fast, set the correct exposure, and get two great pictures. I'm sure your wife understands, I just hope your boss will.

System

Thusie wrote:

George go to your room

hah! sorry, you're too late!-

I've already been told that on another forum!-

Harryb

I would hang up too Joel. That first shot is outstanding, a wall hanger.

I can't get shots like that because I don't have an office anymore.

traunerk

that's exciting...
great shot and always exciting when that happens - which ain't too often for me. However, i would bet that's a Cooper's hawk, not a red-tail....of course, I'm no expert.

Regards...and the first shot is excellent....Keith

kdog

Thanks for the nice comments, Scott and Susan.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Regards,
-joel

kdog

BrettG wrote:

Score!
So... did the wife call back?

Actually, I sent her an email.

She's cool, and knows that I'm obsessed. She put up with me going eagle hunting like five times a day during eagle season. I sent her the hawk shot, and she really liked it. I think I'll keep her.

Regards,
-joel

kdog

dallas wrote:

Congrats Joel, but I see a major problem with the photos. NOW you'll never get any work done when you're to busy looking out the window for more hawks. : : : Hats off to you....to pick up your camera that fast, set the correct exposure, and get two great pictures. I'm sure your wife understands, I just hope your boss will.

Thank you, William! Hey, I don't get any work done anyhow since I started this damn hobby.

I really lucked out on the exposure. I'd shot some some crows earlier this AM and that's how I'd left the camera. :uhoh Truth be told, I may have gotten better results if I'd stopped down to F7 or 8 because I was in very close. The DOF could have been improved. Not that I'm complaining mind you.

Regards,
-joel

kdog

Harryb wrote:

I would hang up too Joel. That first shot is outstanding, a wall hanger.

I can't get shots like that because I don't have an office anymore.

Thanks, Harry. I took your suggestion and printed it out. It really looks great on paper. It's going on the wall for sure.

It must be nice to have the whole outdoors as your office though. I envy you for that (not to mention your photographic skills!)

Regards,
-joel

kdog

traunerk wrote:

great shot and always exciting when that happens - which ain't too often for me. However, i would bet that's a Cooper's hawk, not a red-tail....of course, I'm no expert.

Regards...and the first shot is excellent....Keith

Thanks so much, Keith. Yeah, I've been doing some more studying, and you're right. It's no red tail. I'm pretty convinced it's either a Cooper's Hawk as you say, or possibly a Sharp Shinned Hawk, which is kind of a smaller cousin to the Cooper's Hawk. Cooper's apparently run 21" in height, and I'm pretty sure this guy was smaller.

Sharp Shinned, Cooper's and the Goshawk are all Accipiters, according to the book I have. And get this: they like to hang out close to bird feeders (which of course he was right next to) so that they can eat the birds! But hey, I don't mind trading a few of those noisy little song birds for a nice raptor or two.

Regards,
-joel

gildco

That first shot is excellent--a real eye-grabber. Good work, Joel, and a beautiful raptor.

CookieS

I like both shots , the angle on the second is nice a differetn, the first is just sharp and eye grabbing. way to go.

Scott_Quier

Harryb wrote:

I would hang up too Joel. That first shot is outstanding, a wall hanger.

I can't get shots like that because I don't have an office anymore.

I agree it's a wall-hanger.

Oh, and Harry, nobody likes a braggart - sure wish I were in your shoes but doesn't look like that's going to happen for a number of years yet.

wolfies

Great shots……

I want an office with a view like that hope he comes around again

jwear

kdog wrote:

Thanks so much, Keith. Yeah, I've been doing some more studying, and you're right. It's no red tail. I'm pretty convinced it's either a Cooper's Hawk as you say, or possibly a Sharp Shinned Hawk, which is kind of a smaller cousin to the Cooper's Hawk. Cooper's apparently run 21" in height, and I'm pretty sure this guy was smaller.

Sharp Shinned, Cooper's and the Goshawk are all Accipiters, according to the book I have. And get this: they like to hang out close to bird feeders (which of course he was right next to) so that they can eat the birds! But hey, I don't mind trading a few of those noisy little song birds for a nice raptor or two.

Regards,
-joel

you and keith are right and only you would know --the size is the big thing and the sharp is very much smaller .I do not think you can make that call looking at a picture .Luck is what most guys call great captures --and you got both

kdog

Thanks Gil, Cookie and Scott for all the nice comments.
I really appreciate it.

-joel

kdog

wolfies wrote:

Great shots……

I want an office with a view like that hope he comes around again

Thanks Wolfies! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and will be ready for him next time. :photo

And yeah, my office set up is really great. It make it really hard to concentrate on work though. :uhoh

Great gallery you have.

-joel

kdog

jwear wrote:

you and keith are right and only you would know --the size is the big thing and the sharp is very much smaller .I do not think you can make that call looking at a picture .Luck is what most guys call great captures --and you got both

Thank you, Jeff.

-joel

grimace

That 1st shot is incredible!! Hard to believe it was shot through glass. Nice work!!