Went out the out local arboretum today and found once of these. Is this a Red Shoulder Hawk?

Nice shot Ken, and yes, I believe that is a Red Shoulder.

That's a RSH for sure and quite a beautiful specimen.

Ken

I checked the web for the Red Shoulder and i could not find any exactly the same as this one.

Thanks for the Comments.

Nice capture. I'm curious where the lens was relative to the RSH, as I don't see these guys close to the ground very often. Were you up off of ground level for this shot? Thanks, and congrats on the capture.

Dave I.

No i was on the Ground.when taking this shot. This Guy was up in a tree about 30 off hte ground. I was about 50 yards back using a EF 400mm /f/5.6L USM on a 40d body.

Are you realted to any Israels' in Dayton Ohio?

Ken

Hi Ken, I don't think that I have any relatives in Dayton. But I'm not much into geneology, so you never know. This was a good capture, given your vantage point. I'm finding myself tempted to get a 400 f/5.6. I do use a 100-400 on the 40, but have seen so many great shots from the 400/5.6 that I'm begining to think it would be worth the investment (as birds are my favorite subject and I can't afford a 500/4).

Wondering if you manual focused this shot or had the AF on. The reason that I ask, is my 40D has a tendency to front focus on branches (whether I use my 100-400, 70-200 or Sigma 120-300) when the birds are in trees and I try to rely on AF. I don't see this problem so much with the 5D, but I usually use the 40 for birds b/c of the crop factor. Wondering if you have seen that problem.

This shot came out great, especially given the angle you were shooting from (his eye...what I am usuall aiming my lens at....is very sharp). Great job, Ken, and thanks for the additional info.

Dave I. :0

Dave,

Thanks again for the comments.

I did not use manual focus on This Hawk. Actually i was using AI Servo mode just in case he took off and i could get a flight shot.

I can say with confidence that the 400 f/5.6 is known for its fast focusing, and its sharpness. If you are thinking about getting one, you will not be disapointed in a prime lens or this one in particuar. I love this lens, and i know many people who love theirs as well.

Now i do think that this shot could be much sharper, and on the next trip out there i will bring the Tripod.

As far as the branches go, it may be because that in AI Servo it may have caught a distracting foreground/background through Camera shake and then tried to focus on it. Not sure, i would try using a Tripod. I hope this helps.

Ken