Juvie Cooper's Hawks - up close & personal

[LazyPhotographer]

I came across some Cooper’s Hawks late Saturday morning in a parking lot. I got a few shots of the adult and one juvie playing in a tree. It was pretty exciting to find them in my neighborhood.

Later that afternoon I went back around 4:30… while driving through the parking lot I almost ran over 2 juvies that were walking on the ground. Turns out there are 3 kids and 1 adult hanging around.

The kids were very cooperative; one in particular had no fear of me or the car at all. I got out and walked around and he didn’t take off – he just looked at me all bug-eyed. Most of the time, the little bugger was too close to me to focus.

Here are some shots of the fearless one pretty close up. Not all the shots are real clean, it was low light and I had to use ISO 800 on some.

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/lazypics_raptors2/IMG_9360az_JuvCoopers.jpg

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/lazypics_raptors2/IMG_9359az_JuvCoopers.jpg

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/lazypics_raptors2/IMG_9284az_JuvCoopers.jpg

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/lazypics_raptors2/IMG_9320az_JuvCoopers.jpg

Canon 20D/1D Mark II, 400L, 100-400L IS

New pics on my website are found here: Newest Additions (http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=lazypics_new)

[ngannet]

wow, those are awesome!!! That's amazing that you could get that close to them. Great job at showing how beautiful their feathers are.

[tupe]

They're beautiful, LP. Great captures. Glad you had your camera with you.

[Maureen Souza]

Again, you are amazing!!

[jopfin]

Wow, those are very cool, great job, the detail is outstanding................Joe

[witchy]

Wow!, they are amazing :)

[Merlin Driver]

Well done, really crisp and clear. Thanks for sharing and not running over them.


Cheers,


Lynn

[Paul A]

Did you use the 400L or the 100-400L to get such great pics?

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Great shots! And I"m wondering what Paul A is wondering. :)

[slacker]

Cool!! crisp detail, I really like the serious look of the fourth one the most.

[AJ Montgomery]

Wow, those are intensely close! The second one, with some added light in post processing would look awesome. I cannot beleive they let you approach so close! Lucky you!!

[condyk]

Nice ... isn't it great when you get some real detail in a shot rather than relying on heavy cropping.

[Reigh Higgins]

Beautiful shots and bird.

[CyberDyneSystems]

:shock:
Wow.. just lovely!

[Airedale1]

Very, very nice!

[cfcRebel]

Oh wow! What a GREAT series Lazy!:shock:
These hawk portraits are out of this world!

[Alan B]

HOLY SH** :cool:

Those are superb :D

[Scottes]

:shock: WoW! :shock:

[MazerRakhm]

Man, those are great!

[guitarman3]

Ditto! And in a parking lot? You must have the magic touch!

[skade]

What an awesome opportunity you had! Great shots!

[CrazyCrease]

i love the last one its says "Hey, did u honestly just hit my car!"

[robertwgross]

Excellent.

---Bob Gross---

[LazyPhotographer]

Thanks everyone!

[HJMinard]

LP ... the "Bird Whisperer" :) ;)
Excellent work once again!

[zach]

LP ... the "Bird Whisperer" :) ;)
Excellent work once again!

My sentiments exactly!

LP, do you have some tips to share with the rest of us for getting up close? On the pic I posted, I could only get about 20 yds away.

[2goldens]

Those are wonderful photographs. Those pictures are one of the reasons you purchase the best glass you can afford.
The pictures are so clean and crisp. The color to me is excellent.
I just love the way that bird just seems to look right into the camera for you. If I didn’t know better I would say that the bird was posing for you.