A bird with a bird...

[elfieh]

On my way to Calgary today, I noticed this Hawk (not sure what kind - Merlin?) beside the road. He moved to 2 other posts and then flew away.
Thanks for checking!:)

Elfie

#1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7200_1.jpg

#2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7207_1.jpg

#3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7217_1.jpg

[Anke]

Well captured!! Both you and him :D

[tumana]

Nice job at following it. Well worth the stop.

[MikeI]

Great shots...

[kenyc]

Excellent, very crisp shots! Love that third one, looks like he's got string or spiderweb or something on his back?

KAC

[seanm]

Great series, It's the first time I've seen a Merlin capturing another bird.

[Canonada]

Great series, very well captured.
Joe

[snowyowl13]

Great shots. Well done.

[hTr]

Great photos and Cool capture

[Cooper911]

Great series...spot on focus and detail. Nice work.

[elfieh]

Thanks for the comments!:)
Yes Kenny, I am not quite sure what he has on his back but it is something!

I was quite happy to get this one!
There was no pp other than crop and resize done.
I sure love my100-400 - it's a great lens!

Elfie

[canonloader]

Great set Elfie. I would prefer he had a rat and not a Magpie, but I guess he isn't picky. :)

[elfieh]

Thanks Mitch! No rats in Alberta!:)
I was not sure what kind of a bird it was!

Elfie

[GyRob]

super IQ on this set some very nice shot's.
Rob.

[dancad]

That thing on its back looks man-made :-(

Some really nice shots here, I like the way it is clutching its' prey...

[4g63photo]

Wow. Great capture.

[SlipNslide281]

Beautiful shots. Very sharp. I think they could Benefit from a touch of contrast to pull some color in its feathers. :)

-Adam

[elfieh]

Thanks guys!:)
I added a little contrast and I think it looks better - thanks Adam!
Not sure what that is on his back???

Have a wonderful day!

Elfie

[bob393]

well done

[canonloader]

Not sure what that is on his back
Ripcord? :lol:

[chubri777]

Very nice pictures you got here.
As for the prey being a Magpie, I don't think that's possible as Magpies are significantly larger than Merlins. I'd be willing to bet the prey is a former male Chestnut-Collared Longspur

[elfieh]

Thanks guys!:)
In my book of Alberta Birds it does show a Chestnut-collared Longspur living in this area. It could very well be! I don't think the tail is long enough for a magpie.

Elfie

[fritz1]

Probably fishing line on his back, very nice pics and rare capture with the bird looks like he was afraid you would take his catch with that white evil looking thing

[Glenn NK]

Great series of shots. Same bird on three different posts; the Merlin was patient, and you were fortunate. Backgrounds are very smoothly OOF.

The bird has some brown feathers - I've seen literally hundreds of magpies and they are completely black and white. In the province of my origin (flag avatar), bird hunters often call them Canadian Pheasants; howerver they're not terribly edible, but incredibly intelligent.

There used to be a pair of Merlins right across the road from me in Beacon Hill Park, but haven't seen them this year - good thing as we are getting many hummers.

[Celestron]

You've done an excellent job Elfie ! All framed well and focused well . I Like #2 , #3 , & #1 in that order . What i'd like to know is how were you able to get this creature on 3 different fence post without running it off to a high tree top somewhere out of reach :o ??

[elfieh]

Thanks again guys!
Well, the answer to your question, Celestron, is, there were no tall trees around. This is prairie country in southern Alberta. I saw him on that first post, he let me take a few shots and then he took of ahead of me. So I caught up to him and took some more photos and off he went again, down the road and stopped on another fence post.
I guess I was just lucky!

Thanks for checking!:)

Elfie

[RandyMays]

Very Nice. I have such a hard time getting close enough to these birds for a descent shot.