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!












ann

ShepsMom

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

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. wink

raptorcaptor

Cool shots Ann! 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

ShepsMom wrote:

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

dbaker1221

nice captures

Harryb

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

Ann McRae

Thanks, Dick.

ann

Dick on Aruba wrote:

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

Maestro wrote:

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. 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

raptorcaptor wrote:

Cool shots Ann! 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

dbaker1221 wrote:

nice captures

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

Harryb wrote:

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

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 here and Swainson's here.


ann

raptorcaptor

Ann McRae wrote:

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 here and Swainson's here.


ann

Extra cool then! 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.