The wrong way caracara

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited December 10, 2006 in Wildlife
Hi y'all,

A while back I came upon this carcara
111181486-O.jpg

not being sociable it took off as soon as it noticed me
111181489-O.jpg

and it flew
111181493-O.jpg

and it flew
111181503-O.jpg

and it flew
111181518-O.jpg

it spies a landing site111181524-O.jpg

111181541-O.jpg

finally it comes in to land
111181550-O.jpg

One problem -with all its flying it had done a 360 and landed in just about the same spot it had taken off from. The only difference was that it was around 2 feet closer to me than it had been before it took off. :rofl

Realizing its error it took off again but this time in a straight line away from me.
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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Comments

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    ha.maybe it was trying to see if you would fall down.:D

    never seen that bird Thanks Harry
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    #4 & 5 clap.gif Nice flight shots Harry. I've still not captured a carcara caracaracarcarcara. :D
    Mike McCarthy

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  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    Nice series Harry, the colors are great but some pics are a bit soft.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
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  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    ........... some pics are a bit soft..

    :cool ....and I just assumed it was my eyes. rolleyes1.gif
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • lifesdisciplelifesdisciple Registered Users Posts: 231 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    That's a real pretty bird. Thanks for sharing. Great shots. clap.gif

    Michael - Life's Disciple
    "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
    www.lifesdisciple.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    ha.maybe it was trying to see if you would fall down.:D

    never seen that bird Thanks Harry

    Thanks. The caracara hangs out in Mexico, Central America and the gulf coast states.
    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!"
  • David TaylorDavid Taylor Registered Users Posts: 146 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    Maybe he thought he could take you! rolleyes1.gifGood story and photos to match.
    David

    www.davidtaylor.smugmug.com
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Harry, please

    he was circling carcass just like he's suppose to rolleyes1.gif and when he relized you weren't dead enough ............... well :lol rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Benjamin
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Caught you - the first two show a banded bird with a transmitter fitted, the others not lol3.gif The second bird probably spooked the first while you were peeping thru your lens.

    Great series though. Did you have to walk around your tripod tracking it or were you handholding?
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  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Awesome shots, Harry. :):
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    #4 & 5 clap.gif Nice flight shots Harry. I've still not captured a carcara caracaracarcarcara. :D

    Thanks Mike and we will do our best so taht you can get some shots. I've been seeing them verytime I visit the wetlands.
    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!"
  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    Hi y'all,

    A while back I came upon this carcara
    not being sociable it took off as soon as it noticed me
    111181489-O.jpg

    and it flew
    and it flew
    and it flew
    it spies a landing site
    finally it comes in to land
    One problem -with all its flying it had done a 360 and landed in just about the same spot it had taken off from. The only difference was that it was around 2 feet closer to me than it had been before it took off. rolleyes1.gif

    Realizing its error it took off again but this time in a straight line away from me.

    What an awesome series Harry......... in that second shot the Carcara looks like its got a tag on it's leg, but I can't see it in any other shot ??? headscratch.gif

    I've never seen one of these birds before, thanks for sharing.
    ...... Skippy (Australia)
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

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    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • ysr612ysr612 Registered Users Posts: 148 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    BigAl wrote:
    Caught you - the first two show a banded bird with a transmitter fitted, the others not lol3.gif The second bird probably spooked the first while you were peeping thru your lens.

    Great series though. Did you have to walk around your tripod tracking it or were you handholding?

    wow good eye I had seen the band but missed the radio.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    Nice series Harry, the colors are great but some pics are a bit soft.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.

    Thanks Dick. The take off shot is a tad soft but that was when I began to track the sucker. Right after the take-off the focus got locked on.
    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 5, 2006
    lifesdisciple wrote:
    That's a real pretty bird. Thanks for sharing. Great shots. clap.gif

    Thank you Michael.
    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 6, 2006
    David Taylor wrote:
    Maybe he thought he could take you! rolleyes1.gifGood story and photos to match.

    Thanks david 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!"
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2006
    Great Photography Harry ! clap.gif
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

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  • jsedlakjsedlak Registered Users Posts: 487 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2006
    wonderful series as always Harry!
    jsedlak.smugmug.com
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2006
    very nice Harry but if he is circling eek7.gifeek7.gif you may have to move more or next time use the 45p ne_nau.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2006
    bfjr wrote:
    Harry, please

    he was circling carcass just like he's suppose to rolleyes1.gif and when he relized you weren't dead enough ............... well :lol rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    I think you might have right idea here. I have been noticing a fair number of vultures circling above me lately whenever I leave the house. biggrinbounce2.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 December 7, 2006
    BigAl wrote:
    Caught you - the first two show a banded bird with a transmitter fitted, the others not lol3.gif The second bird probably spooked the first while you were peeping thru your lens.

    Great series though. Did you have to walk around your tripod tracking it or were you handholding?

    Nope, the mystery of tha band has come up before and I noticed it when processing the shots. I have no idea why its visible on the second shot (its not visible on the first shot) but not the others. These were part of a sequence of 12 shots that I took. The sequence started at 10:27:50 and ended at 10:28:32, that's less than a minute, no way a second caracara could have gotten in there. Plus I tracked it from take off to landing and my lens was never off the subject and the other caracaras at Viera have also been banded. Gale was with me and saw the sequence and she saw just the one caracara.

    The sequence was handheld and shot with my D200 and 300 F/4 lens.
    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 7, 2006
    JenW wrote:
    Awesome shots, Harry. :):

    Thank you Jen.
    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 7, 2006
    Skippy wrote:
    What an awesome series Harry......... in that second shot the Carcara looks like its got a tag on it's leg, but I can't see it in any other shot ??? headscratch.gif

    I've never seen one of these birds before, thanks for sharing.
    ...... Skippy (Australia)

    Thanks Skippy, see my response to BigAl re:the band
    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 7, 2006
    Awais Yaqub wrote:
    Great Photography Harry ! clap.gif

    Many thanks Awais 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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2006
    jsedlak wrote:
    wonderful series as always Harry!

    Many thanks John, glad you enjoyed it.
    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 7, 2006
    jwear wrote:
    very nice Harry but if he is circling eek7.gifeek7.gif you may have to move more or next time use the 45p ne_nau.gif

    Thanks Jeff but my whole philosophy of life revolves around me having to move as little as possible. rolleyes1.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!"
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2006
    It's good to see the Caracara hanging around Vierra frequently. You've got Caracara, Bald Eagles, the Maksed Duck what else could you ask for? How is that little Masked Duck doing anyways? Is it still a celebrity or is it's 15 minutes over?
    Nick
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    It's good to see the Caracara hanging around Vierra frequently. You've got Caracara, Bald Eagles, the Maksed Duck what else could you ask for? How is that little Masked Duck doing anyways? Is it still a celebrity or is it's 15 minutes over?

    Hey Nick,

    That damned duck is still hanging out at the wetlands and a continuing stream of birders are making their pilgrimages to see it. The numbers are smaller but they are still coming in. Pathfinder and I were stopped by a number of them who asked us if we knew where the masked duck was. rolleyes1.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!"
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 8, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    ...I have no idea why its visible on the second shot (its not visible on the first shot) but not the others.
    Ah, but the transmitter antenna is clearly visible in the first shot. I believe the only reason you can't see the band in first shot is because it's hidden by the grass along with the feet. The backs are tack sharp on the subsequent flight shots (kudos to you), and it's clear that antenna has vanished. I realize this was a sequence of shots, but it sure looks like two birds exchanged places during it.

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2006
    kdog wrote:
    Ah, but the transmitter antenna is clearly visible in the first shot. I believe the only reason you can't see the band in first shot is because it's hidden by the grass along with the feet. The backs are tack sharp on the subsequent flight shots (kudos to you), and it's clear that antenna has vanished. I realize this was a sequence of shots, but it sure looks like two birds exchanged places during it.

    Cheers,
    -joel

    rolleyes1.gif The simple fact is that there was one caracara in that shot. The sequence lasted around 59 seconds during which I took a total of 14 shots, that's 1 shot every 4.2 seconds. During that sequence I managed to get a solid focus lock on the subject by the 3rd shot (that's why the first two shots are a bit softer). Now I am good at getting flight shots but I'm not so good that I can start tracking one caracara in a sequence lose him, have a second caracara come in and take his exact place in the frame, then get focus lock on him and get 14 shots in 59 seconds. I'm good but I'm not that good.

    I kept the lens on the subject during the whole sequence and would have noticed one flying off and being replaced by a second. Secondly, Gale witnessed the sequence from directly behind me (she wasn't shooting at the time) and she did not see a second caracara.
    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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