Hawks - They were after me

PrescottPhotog

Hi Everyone,

As I mentioned in my previous post, just before the Eagle showed up the other day there were about 5 Northern Harriers and Cooper hawks right on me. They were also chasing the Peregrine Falcon and pestering it. Must have been something in the water.

Here are a couple very close up shots I got. I was using my 500mm and had to set it to minimum focus distance to capture these shots. Two of them are cut off because they are full crops and didn't fit the frame. The last isn't out of focus, but through the brush. I was tucked under some brush and after capturing the first few shots I turned my head and saw, just on the other side of the brush, a Harrier sitting watching me. I turned my camera but couldn't get a good shot through the dense brush but as you can see he was really giving me the eye. I could have almost reached out and touched him. I felt like they were after me, LOL.

Then the Eagle showed up and that took my full attention.

Hope you like the shots.. Comments are welcome.

#1 (this is as close as the P. Falcon came to me).

#2

#3 (cropped)

#4 (full crop)

#5 (full crop)

#6 (through the brush just over my shoulder)

Bud1880

Beautiful shots Chris. I think I'd be a bit uneasy though if I had that #6 sitting just a few feet from me and looking like that. :uhoh

Bud

NanaMo

Fantastic shots, Chris. I LOVE the clarity and sharpness of the eyes. It takes some serious skill to capture that!!! barb

Maureen

PrescottPhotog

Bud1880 wrote:

Beautiful shots Chris. I think I'd be a bit uneasy though if I had that #6 sitting just a few feet from me and looking like that. :uhoh Bud

Hi Bud, Thanks for your comments. I love it when they get so close, that's why I wear my mouse costume when I'm out in the field..

Thanks for viewing.

PrescottPhotog

NanaMo wrote:

Fantastic shots, Chris. I LOVE the clarity and sharpness of the eyes. It takes some serious skill to capture that!!! Maureen

Hi Maureen, Thanks for your nice comments. It's fun when you can get them up close. Surprises them as much as it does me when they finally see me though, we both jump,..

dbaker1221

i love the feel of the last one. well done!!

Maestro

Man, your place is like raptor central. To see a peregrine....wow!

Giphsub

and

jwear

that's why I wear my mouse costume when I'm out in the field..

well I quess we will just call you Micky from now on send Ric a photo of that outfit may make it easier than the blind are you in a tree line or in the open ??

Giphsub

oh, and I love no.6!

Awais Yaqub

Wow great photos

bfjr

very nice

PrescottPhotog

Hi Dave, Stephen, Mike and Jeff.

Thank you all for your comments on the hawks.

Stephen, we don't have a big population of raptors. Most just pass through and I have been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. For months this summer (100+ degrees) all I shot were ducks, ducks and more ducks. Now the eagles, osprey and hawks are moving and stop here for a couple days then disappear. Not all, but most don't stay long.

Jeff, I try to stay tucked under the brush and in the shade. No pics but I use a lot of camo. Being a former Marine (long ago) I'm used to hugging the ground with the bugs, snakes, spiders and other critters that most wouldn't want to be around. I just try not to bring them home on me or in my pack, . Some shots take hours of sitting and waiting.. Our critters do NOT like people and our terrain is very open so if you don't blend in you won't get the shots. I have watched eagles land on the other side of the lake (where people can't get to, in the boulders) and watch the lake for an hour before flying over. Some just leave if they see people hiking on the trails. I never give up cause some of my best shots came on days when I was going to leave (no action) then 10 minutes later there is an eagle or osprey. Ya just never know.

riddim_maker

Hawks, harriers, eagles, etc. and so close you can almost touch them?
Where/what is this place? Wildlife photographer's heaven?:D
You lucky Dude

raptorcaptor

Good shooting Chris!

Harryb

Outstanding flight shots Chris.