Thang -
Actually, I think it's the hawk that's feeling at home with all of us who harass him on a daily basis. He doesn't spook easily when people are passing by him on adjacent trails. Even when not feeding, I found that I can get within 3 feet or closer before he gets spooked. I find myself backing away for minimum focus distance or cropping considerations.
- Ken
Thang wrote:
WOW KEN, these shots are superb. Very very well done. You're right at home with this hawk now.
Frank -
Thanks for the kind words. These were shot with the 300mm f2.8 lens with the TC-20 E II teleconverter on all but the last so many shots when the teleconverter was removed. I could have used a lot shorter lens, as he was allowing me to get quite close and I had to keep backing up to not overfill the frame.
- Ken
fglazewski wrote:
Ken,
These are awesome - Great job on the exposure against that sky. Just curious, were you using your 600 for these?
Melody -
Don't let a little thing like a snake keep you from shooting out here. Come on down to OC and shoot with us. I could use another Nikon shooter in the group.
- Ken
MelodyB wrote:
Well Mr Nikon shooter you did quite WELL! Wonderful series.
I was down in the area Sat evening, however now that you've shown me there are snakes it's gonna be awhile before I come back! ! I'll just enjoy your pictures!
Rammy -
Yes, I did see your post last week and left a reply on the string. We can consider ourselves lucky to be in the right place at the right time to both witness these moments and to get it with our cameras.
This is the third red tailed hawk feeding post (add to that the osprey and kestrel feeding posts) that I was lucky enough to have quality images to share. Each encounter has been exciting for me and feels like a privilege to capture with a camera.
I don't know if these birds are trying to see if they can make me loose my appetite, or make me hungry so that I would run off to the nearest McDonald's and leave them alone.
- Ken
rammy wrote:
excellent shots! reminds me of my post here last week!
John -
As the old saying goes about "even a broken clock is right at least twice a day", those of us who are "equipment challenged (Nikon)" can come up with a surprise once in a while.
So when are we going to be shooting together again?
- Ken
Johnny Bravo wrote:
Supererb pics, super post Ken. Simply outstanding. Who says the Gods can't occasionally smile on the equipment handicapped? (Well, I do, actually, but occasionally I'm wrong.)
Very nice sequence. What a bonus to get him pulling a rodent out of the belly of the snake. I'm sure that is something that hasn't been photographed very often.
Swampwalker, Andrea (andreaplanet), and Mitchell (shaggybill) -
I really do feel lucky to have hit the jackpot on what I would also think would be a rare occurance. Glad to be able to share it with you all.
- Ken
swampwalker wrote:
....So would you like a cream filled or rodent??
Very nice sequence. What a bonus to get him pulling a rodent out of the belly of the snake. I'm sure that is something that hasn't been photographed very often.
Wonderful series.
! I'll just enjoy your pictures!
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