joanr wrote:
Lovely series, Steve--Rotator cuff all better? Sure looks like it.

Joan, I'm still trying to take it easy with my right shoulder, so I propped up the BushHawk on a fence as I still can't hold the rig for extended periods of time like I used to. Seems like I tore the rotator cuff possibly years ago and didn't know it, so the muscles around the tear compensated for the injury. I don't need surgery as I'm not in any pain, and it happened so long ago that they really can't fix it back to the way it was. So I''m doing physical therapy to strengthen what's left -- which apparently isn't much, judging from the MRI. I had to buy a new 100-400 -- LONG story, I'll tell you about it one of these days -- but it needs calibration, so I'm using the 500 f4 exclusively until I run the lens through FoCal, a computer-based software program that calibrates lens to camera.

Hugs,
Steve

eyelaser wrote:
Super shots that really show their size relative to one another.
Eric

Thanks Eric! And I was lucky in that there was good light that day, so I had a high shutter speed yet an aperture large enough so both birds were in-focus -- even though they were both pretty much the same distance from my lens. One of these days I'll remember to use the 7D's video mode; I think it would work great for behavioral series like this.

Best Wishes,
Steve

trenchmonkey wrote:
Great shots, Steve Pesky bastards!

You're so right Will -- pesky AND cheeky! The "unkindness" numbered about 10 ravens and they just wouldn't stop harrassing the poor guy, even, er, "escorting" him out of the area. Just glad I screeched a U-ie to see him before they got to him!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Really nice shots

Howard Kearley wrote:
Great shots

Howard

Thanks Howard! Sure glad I had the presence of mind to "pull a U-ee" to check up on this guy, instead of just continuing down the road...

Best Wishes,
Steve

danjacquitaylo wrote:
Love them WTK. Excellent captures Steve.
Dan

Thanks Dan, I love 'em too. Wish there were more of 'em here in my area, I just may have to go check out Conrad's harem up in the Bay Area one of these days...

Best Wishes,
Steve

David Leask wrote:
Super interaction Steve, well captured.
David


Thanks David! It was fun to watch -- though I wish the WTK would have been more aggressive against the ravens -- and I'm learning never to leave home without my " 7D/500 f4 on the BushHawk" rig!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Nice shots Steve,

Paul.

kmunroe wrote:
a very nice set Steve

Thanks Kenny! Appreciate the look and comment!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Rob Tillyer wrote:
Great job Steve.

Rob

Thanks Rob. Totally fortuitous on my getting this guy; they're not exactly common around here on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, so when I saw him...*SCREECH! and pull a U-turn* I had no choice!

Steve

tfoltz wrote:
Way to go Steve

Thanks Tim! I'm just glad there wasn't much traffic when I pulled the U, and that he was still there and the ravens hadn't yet driven him away...

Steve

KCollett wrote:
Good set Steve. I like the last one best.


I agree Ken, that look on the WTK of "surprise", or "astonishment", is priceless...

Steve

morris wrote:
The second is quite an image and you handled a huge exposure challenge. The last is a beauty.

Morris


Thanks Morris! You're right about that 2nd one, the black raven and white WTK aren't the easiest things to pull out in the same frame, but the sun was strong and behind me, so that certainly helped...

Best Wishes,
Steve

Lance B wrote:
Fantastic set of behavioural images, Steve! Last is a real beauty!

Thanks Lance! I love doing a "series" like this , particularly when the expressions and actions literally beg for captions...

Best Wishes,
Steve

surfnron wrote:
Nice action and very nice shots Steve ~ Ron

Thanks Ron! Appreciate the look and comment.

Best Wishes,
Steve

dalite wrote:
Great sequence. I'd say the kite sure was hanging on.


He sure was! If it were me I would have fallen off, or at least bent the branch over... Amazing that they can grasp a thing as slender as that branch (and it was a bit windy to boot) yet still look, well, elegant...

Best Wishes,
Steve

Shasoc wrote:
Great job on these, Steve! Enjoyed the images as much as reading your comments The last one is my pick
Socrate

Thanks amigo Socrate! You know how it goes, sometimes the photos literally beg for a captions, and that was the case here...

Your friend,
Steve

Good captures Steve.
Douglas

You have to love the feather pulling shot Steve! 3 fine shots my friend. I'm with Herb, I use the corvids to find the raptors

Tim

Pretty cool interaction Steve, the Kite sure does look perturbed
I thought it was a "murder" but upon checking I see that applies to a flock of Crow not Ravens

Tom