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.
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.
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 shots without ever leaving the house.
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, bullhead 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 shots without ever leaving the house.
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 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 shots without ever leaving the house.
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. Usually means a hawk. Then, I watched a Cooper\'s hawk chase a blue jay around the back yard and then land in a tall tree. I switched to the 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 shots without ever leaving the house.
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. Usually means a hawk. Then, I watched a Cooper\'s hawk chase a blue jay around the back yard and then land in a tall tree. I switched to the 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.
Herb
#1-3
Feb 02, 2015 at 02:51 PM
Previous versions of Herb Houghton's message #12835081 « After the Storm »
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. 