Migratory Red Tail Hawks - A Series

[Vicky]

This is about a large flock of Migratory Red Tail Hawks that come here every year around Oct/Nov and nest in the nearby forests. They are usually here till about March/April when they migrate again.

It was mid Oct already and there was no sign of them yet. Then one day I woke up and was pleasantly surprised to see that the Red-Tail Hawks ware back!! Must have been 100+ spread around the buildings and trees!!

This one was perched pretty close...on the terrace of the nearby building... less than 20' from my window...

#1
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5626c.jpg
400D, 70-300 IS, 300mm, 1/400, f/8, ISO 200, Hand Held, IS on, about 70% crop.


#2
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5630a.jpg
400D, 70-300 IS, 300mm, 1/250, f/8, ISO 200, Hand Held, IS on


C&C welcome! Thanks for looking!

Viky

[KrishnenduKes]

Red Tail Hawk Approved

Brilliant clarity! Now I know what you meant by the clarity of the 70-300.

[powerslave]

Sweet! Damn. I have to make a case for my newly acquired 55-250IS. Sweet shots mang.

[Vicky]

Here are a few more...

#3 See the size of the flock!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5740.jpg

#4 Sunbathing in the cold winter!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5782.jpg

[Sunny]

Sweet, clarity is very good, specially at 300mm!

[Vicky]

Adding a few more..

#5
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5679.jpg
400D + Canon 70-300 IS @ 300mm, 1/320, f/8, ISO 100

#6
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5705.jpg
400D + Canon 70-300 IS @ 300mm, 1/400, f/8, ISO 200

One more from the same series.. 50% crop..

#7
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5621.jpg

[Vicky]

Here's a couple more from last week..

He was constantly aware on my presence.. Captured some heavy Eye-Contact in these...

#8
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_6484a.jpg
400D with 70-300 IS @ 170mm, 1/400, f/7.1, ISO 200

#9 This one's my favorite.. love the pose.. how the body & wings are banked, but head is horizontal..
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_6233a.jpg
400D with 70-300 IS @ 160mm, 1/320, f/9, ISO 200

Check out the larger version of this one here (http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_6233copy.jpg")!

Thanks for lookin:)

[Vicky]

She looked so majestic... her wings spread wide... soaking in the sun's warmth..


#10
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_1739a.jpg
1/125, f/8, ISO 100, 300mm with 70-300IS

She was perched on the ledge of a white building. I exposed for her dark feathers to get this 'high key' effect which I simply love!

[Vicky]

Here's a moody one..

#11 Enjoying the Sunset 'Together'
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/_MG_9269_web.jpg

[Vicky]

Brilliant clarity! Now I know what you meant by the clarity of the 70-300.

Sweet! Damn. I have to make a case for my newly acquired 55-250IS. Sweet shots mang.

Sweet, clarity is very good, specially at 300mm!

Thanks guys:D

[powerslave]

Sunbathing in the cold winter!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5782.jpg

This one's easily the best!

[Vicky]

This is one brave Pigeon! Sharing the same perch with a Red tail Hawk - Priceless! No wonder his chest looks swollen with pride:)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_6051b.jpg

The glory is short lived... actually its more like the Hawks' are lame...
This one's being mocked by crows:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l96/rx100/IMG_5968.jpg

[Sunny]

^ very nice observations, something which most of us would easily miss!

[manav]

The bird almost looks pissed off at you. Amazing shots. You need a 400 or more now. You must have hands of steel though. I doubt IS helps at 300mm with so much action going on!

[Vicky]

The bird almost looks pissed off at you. Amazing shots. You need a 400 or more now.

Thanks Manav! Glad u liked these! Yes, my next lens will probably be the Canon 400mm f/5.6 L:):rolleyes:

You must have hands of steel though. I doubt IS helps at 300mm with so much action going on!

Nothing special from me here regarding the hand holding really...the IS helps to isolate camera shake, while the fast S/S takes care of the birds actions / motions:)

[cosgeo]

As everyone said, i love to see the sharpness of the images. Jst awesome............

I yet have to learn to do tht. Hope i learn fast.

[Vicky]

Desperately awaiting their arrival this year... but there are no signs of them yet:(

Hopefully, I should be able to get better shots this time around with better equipment at my disposal:)

[shutterbug]

I am looking forward to your shots of the hawk, this time with the 50d and 400L! Even with the earlier set up, the output was mindblowing!

[arijit]

fantastic series...each one is classic.
a++++....+

[hitanshu]

+1. Really looking forward to it!

[Vicky]

Was shooting the beautiful sunset... and noticed tiny black specks far away in the sky... couldn't make out what they were, so ran downstairs to fetch the 400L... and this is what i saw in the distance..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3967392143_37e404f5a1_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3967392275_1bcf265aac_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/3967392389_4997e0db34_o.jpg

So, they're back early this year.. 28th Sept compared to 18 Oct last year!

Stay tuned for more!!

[KrishnenduKes]

I am tuned. I do not have a high speed connection however when I travel. But I will try to connect nonetheless.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

have u noticed vicky that in your first shot the birds have actually formed a rough "om" symbol??:)

anvancy

[KrishnenduKes]

Hey Vicky! Where are you?

Revive this place. It is calling you...

[Vicky]

Hey Vicky! Where are you?

Revive this place. It is calling you...


Hi Ken!

I'm still hanging around here. Just that I've been too busy lately due to travel & work:(

Not much photography happening these days...

And whatever little gets captured, doesn't get processed...

So nothing much to share :( :o