Complete and utter Frustration.

Brooks PBrooks P Registered Users Posts: 190 Major grins
edited November 1, 2006 in Wildlife
I heard a commotion outside and went out to see what was going on and saw twenty or thirty Crows (Ravens?) down the street on the power lines. They were sure agitated about something. Walked across the street because the neighbor was out looking too. I said, “Wonder what that’s all about?”, and he replied, “They have a Red-tailed Hawk cornered on the pole.” I really should wear my glasses more. I hadn’t seen the hawk.

Went and got my camera and walked down the street. When I was one phone pole away I took this picture.
106946535-L.jpg

Don’t know if it was the shutter, or if the hawk had enough of the Crows, but he chose that moment to take off. I managed this photo, which is horrible.
106946530-L.jpg

He banked and flew right in front of me, going between two houses. The houses sit on top of a ridge, and the hawk was in a stoop and rapidly disappeared from view. The Crows were not able to dive like that and quickly broke off the chase.

Meanwhile my lens was cycling back and forth between infinity and five-feet, refusing to focus on anything. That is the closest I have ever been to a hawk, maybe twelve feet at one point. I’ve got to get a faster focusing lens.

Comments

  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2006
    Not that bad at all. Kind of a fun take off on yours:

    106956884-M.jpg
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2006
    I you only knew...at least you manage some pics to illustrate the story to tell your kids.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2006
    The first shot is Ok. Have you tried cropping it some more?

    A pretty fast focusing lens that I've had good success with is the 300mm F/4. It won't break the bank and works very well with the 1.4 and 1.7 TCs.
    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!"
  • Brooks PBrooks P Registered Users Posts: 190 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    The first shot is Ok. Have you tried cropping it some more?

    A pretty fast focusing lens that I've had good success with is the 300mm F/4. It won't break the bank and works very well with the 1.4 and 1.7 TCs.
    That is one of the finalists on my list (with the TC).
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited November 1, 2006
    Brooks P wrote:
    That is one of the finalists on my list (with the TC).

    I also have a 300mm F4 lens and it is great for handheld bifs! Practise is good too!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
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