Scouting for food

[JC4]

Conditions sucked(raining, hazy and dark), but I hadn't seen a hawk around in a while, so I took a couple quick shots. This is one of the better ones, right after he finished a meal.

Taken at 600mm(300 + 2x TC) , 1/60th sec, hand-held leaning against a window. A bit noisy, and lacking in detail at 100%, but at this 30% crop, and web sized I think it looks pretty good.

----click image for larger version----
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/1351152502_f5643f2822.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/1351152502_613e38e405_o.jpg)

Can someone identify it? The markings look like a Coopers Hawk to me, but it was very large, more like a Red-Tailed Hawk.

[Ephily]

Beautiful picture of a Red-shouldered Hawk.

[JC4]

Thanks for the ID.

Mostly we see Coopers and an occasionally Red-Tailed. This didn't look like either, and I don't think I've seen it around before. I've seen pictures of Red-shouldered Hawks, but I suck at IDing :)

Hopefully I'll get another shot on a nicer day, or at least when I'm setup better. I'd like to get a capture that does this beautiful bird justice. The same pose would be nice too :)

JohnC

[Davy O'Brien]

Very nice picture, detail and colour look really well in poor conditions.

Dave.