Red-Tailed Surprise

PrescottPhotog

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on the forum lately. I've been busy getting Uncle Sam taken care of for last year (yuck). I'm sure I have lots of great photos to catch up on and view.

So the other morning I took a break and was sitting under a group of 3 tall trees at the lake. I hadn't planned on being out long and only took my 300mm, which turned out to be the perfect choice.. as you will see.

Unbeknownst to me a big RT must have landed just behind me and was looking for breakfast. All of a sudden (about 20 feet in front of me) I see this blur dive down into the brush (scared the crap out of me). Nothing moved for about 15 seconds then a head pops up as you can see.

I thought for sure he must have seen me because I was shooting away. Finally after a bit he took off but I couldn't see anything in his claws (this all happened pretty fast, they don't stay on the ground long).

He circled around behind the trees where I was sitting and the last shot in this series is all I could get. So I turned back around and was viewing my shots in the LCD.

The next thing I notice is junk falling down on my head and camera from above me. When I looked up there was the RT swallowing the mouse and what he was dropping on me was the grass and dirt that you see he is dragging in his claws.

As soon as he swallowed the mouse he took off for parts unknown. I'm glad he swallowed it whole or the parts he dropped on me would have been left over mouse limbs. I checked for body parts but nothing but brush and dirt.

Man these guys are good at capturing critters. The brush is so thick you can't walk through it.. but they dive down in it and almost always come up with a catch.

Hope you enjoy the shots.

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#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Giphsub

Wow! Awesome captures Chris! That head shot in the grass is fantastic!

jwear

always be ready you never know were are you shooting these? I almost bought land near prescott years ago ,in chino right at the border of the natioal park . Good shooting

Harv

A truly outstanding catch, Chris. Way to go. Two thumbs up.

anwmn1

jwear wrote:

always be ready you never know were are you shooting these? I almost bought land near prescott years ago ,in chino right at the border of the natioal park . Good shooting

He likes to shoot at Willow and Watson Lakes which are right across from each other. Right Chris?

National Park near Chino? You must mean National Forest Land. I grew up there- there is no National Park within a few hours.

Where about is your land?

anwmn1

2, 3, and 4 are pretty sweet Chris.

jensen photos

If you have the patience and time, keep visiting that area. At my workplace is a RTH I named Henry. Henry is so used to me I can get within twenty feet of him. They are pretty fearless, like Chickadees.

A good maxim with shooting birds, or just observing them like I do is to find one place to sit still for about 20-30 minutes. They will get used to you, and like Chickadees, will become VERY curious.

PrescottPhotog

Giphsub wrote:

Wow! Awesome captures Chris! That head shot in the grass is fantastic!

Hi Mike, Thanks for your compliments. I got quite a few head shots but because of all the brush I was shooting through this is the only one that came out. You can tell by the second shot how thick it was where he dove in.

PrescottPhotog

jwear wrote:

were are you shooting these?

Hi Jeff.. Thanks for the compliments. These shots were taken at Willow Lake but the shooting there is now pretty tough. Remember last summer when I was complaining about the low water level (like 15 feet low) and having to walk more than 200 yards to get to the water. Well with all the rains the lakes are now overflowing.. and I mean over the dams.

Now the water is so high it has made this lake about 10 times bigger because it is such a shallow lake (great for the ducks). Now there is no place to hide and getting around the shoreline is almost impossible. There is a beautiful wooded area with huge huge trees that is now about 4 feet underwater and the water line on most of the lakes is up almost to the roads and paths. If you set up and try to shoot all the hikers and dog walkers scare everything away.

Three weeks ago I sat and counted 14 hawks directly in my line of sight. Now their grass and brush is under water so most of the raptors have left because the competition for the critters is to great. The other day rather than sitting in the small trees (which are now also under water) the hawks were sitting on top of the telephone poles right next to the road. Around here you don't get close to them if you are in the open, they just don't trust anyone so as soon as you make a move they are gone.

The other lake, Watson, is so full the whole wildlife area is underwater and they are having to let water out of the lake. Nobody can believe how fast they filled up.

I guess from now on I will have to watch what I wish for (rain).

PrescottPhotog

Harv wrote:

A truly outstanding catch, Chris. Way to go. Two thumbs up.

Hi Harv, Thank you for the compliments.

PrescottPhotog

anwmn1 wrote:

National Park near Chino? You must mean National Forest Land. I grew up there- there is no National Park within a few hours.

Hi Aaron, Jeff might be talking about the Upper Verde River Wildlife Area just north of Chino. It is a beautiful area and getting bigger. Az. Fish and Game has a ton of land and the Forest Service bought a bunch and another group (I believe the Nature Conservancy, but I could be wrong on the group) just bought another few thousand acres (it was just in the newspaper a couple months ago). I see the eagles heading in that direction all the time. They want to preserve everything out there, which is fine with me.

Thanks for the compliments.

jonh68

Great shots. This is a lesson in being prepared if there ever was one.

PrescottPhotog

jensen photos wrote:

If you have the patience and time, keep visiting that area.

Hi, Thanks for the compliments. You are lucky to have Henry. I don't know what it is about the west but nothing out here will let you get close.. and I'm pretty patient (and good). They are very skittish and just won't tolerate people. I've been at it here for 4 years and it doesn't get any easier.

I see the pictures from some of these areas where the birds are standing right in the middle of a group of people. I chuckle because out here close is within 1/4 mile.. unless you hide for a couple hours and let them forget about you then fly by. And there is no such thing as shooting from your car.. not going to happen.

PrescottPhotog

jonh68 wrote:

Great shots. This is a lesson in being prepared if there ever was one.

Hi Jon, Thanks for viewing. I am usually ready but this guy just dropped out of nowhere. I didn't know he was in the tree overtop of me, I never heard a sound. And, when he dove into the brush he didn't make a sound, just a brown blur.

dbaker1221

fantastic captures Chris:ivar

Maestro

Great shooting again. Those eyes look like they are about to bug out of its head.

anwmn1

PrescottPhotog wrote:

Hi Aaron, Jeff might be talking about the Upper Verde River Wildlife Area just north of Chino. It is a beautiful area and getting bigger. Az. Fish and Game has a ton of land and the Forest Service bought a bunch and another group (I believe the Nature Conservancy, but I could be wrong on the group) just bought another few thousand acres (it was just in the newspaper a couple months ago). I see the eagles heading in that direction all the time. They want to preserve everything out there, which is fine with me.

Thanks for the compliments.

I did some research on this.

Interesting how times have changed. When we first moved up there (early 80's) - no one wanted anything to do with that area. Growing up we went down to the Verde all the time to hike, camp, and fish. There were only a few roads that led to the water all of which required a good 4x4 and some skill (I had friends that rolled their vehicles trying to get out of the canyon).

Glad to see they are protecting it. I personally know the Wells family that sold land to the conservation group in late December early January. Their family has been ranching there for decades and use to own half of what is now Chino Valley.

Nice to see development prevented.

GBZee

Excellent Chris! Love the one in the grass...really different than the more common BIF. Well Done!
-george