It was still snowing this morning, but most of the snow had fallen already. I was shooting feeder bird head shots with a 200 f2.8 and 1.4x tele with an extension tube set up by my sliders for 3-4 foot shots thru the glass door. My feeder birds were very actively feeding when they all disappeared in a big hurry. This usually means a hawk is near. Then, I watched a Cooper's hawk chase a blue jay right around the back yard and then land in a tall tree. I switched to the tripod, ball head mounted 500 f4 and 1.4x tele with a 50D for some steep angle shots with a few branches in the way. But then I watched him dive ( I thought to the ground for a bird ) but instead he landed on my deck's corner where I hang a tube feeder from a natural branch. I waited a few seconds for him to turn his head away and then I panned the lens on to him for about 70+ head shot frames before he launched. He was only 15-16 ft away, my 500 f4's mfd. Now I can say I have my best Cooper's hawk head shots without ever having to leave the house.
eyelaser wrote:
So, you were cooped up eh Herb....nice when you can shoot raptors in your jammies (what they were doing in your jammies I'll never know
Eric
Yeah ten inches up here. No Jammie's though, just long johns. That way I'm already half dressed if I decide to go out for harriers or shorties.
where I hang a tube feeder from a natural branch. I waited a few seconds for him to turn his head away and then I panned the lens on to him for about 70+ head shot frames before he launched. He was only 15-16 ft away, my 500 f4's mfd. 
Now I can say I have my best Cooper's hawk head shots without ever having to leave the house. 
