If I could throw myself in jail; this is criminal

It has been so hot in south Florida the past month I wonder if it has affected bird sightings. I was desperate to get a bird shot today so I went to Snyder Park and waited patiently. While driving I saw a brown bird with wide wingspan. (Had to be a hawk I thought.)

I grabbed my camera on the driver's seat pointed up got 2 shots before it flew away. And this is what I have to show for my effort. I am beating up myself right now for missing a Red-tailed Hawk or a Cooper's Hawk, not sure which. (Took out my binoculars and spent the next 45 minutes searching for the elusive bird.)

Thanks for letting me vent my frustration.

Looks like a coppers or sharp shinned.
It would be a little easier to tell if I could see the head. Haha
It happens. You'll get em next time.

I agree with Jeremy. I am leaning to Cooper's.

On the bright side, everything else looks great!

Maybe we should have a missed shots from the driver's seat thread.

My contribution would be an osprey. From a distance, I saw him hit the water and fly away from me down the side of a lake. I drove on a road that paralleled the lakeshore, feverously looking at the shoreline. Finally, I pulled off the road. That's when I looked up. There he was, straight ahead of me about 50 feet away, sitting on a wooden sign with a fish in his talons.

He looked at me like I was crazy. I grabbed my camera and took a couple of shots through the windshield (you think the 100-400 doesn't like filters? Try shooting through your windshield!). I managed 2 shots before he flew away.

He was so close that I cut off all but the very top of the sign. And yes, you guessed it, the sign read "No Fishing"

jhayesvw wrote in post #17624279
Looks like a coppers or sharp shinned.
It would be a little easier to tell if I could see the head. Haha
It happens. You'll get em next time.

I will be back at the same park with binoculars looking for that bird.

2n10 wrote in post #17624318
I agree with Jeremy. I am leaning to Cooper's.

It would have been nice if I had a shot of a Cooper's Hawk that close. Won't make the same mistake next time.

sandwedge wrote in post #17624321
On the bright side, everything else looks great!

Maybe we should have a missed shots from the driver's seat thread.

My contribution would be an osprey. From a distance, I saw him hit the water and fly away from me down the side of a lake. I drove on a road that paralleled the lakeshore, feverously looking at the shoreline. Finally, I pulled off the road. That's when I looked up. There he was, straight ahead of me about 50 feet away, sitting on a wooden sign with a fish in his talons.

He looked at me like I was crazy. I grabbed my camera and took a couple of shots through the windshield (you think the 100-400 doesn't like filters? Try shooting through your windshield!). I managed 2 shots before he flew away.

He was so close that I cut off all but the very top of the sign. And yes, you guessed it, the sign read "No Fishing"

I can relate. Dare I say, "I feel your pain?"

You got almost the eye (just kidding )

I know what you are feeling , me it's always with the kingfisher in my area, they made me crazy like they do not want to be photographed and hide on purpose when i have the camera with me, but when i don't have it they show up

I feel you...

Been there. I'm guessing juvie red shoulder.

As Forest Gump once said "It happens". It has happened to me more than once

Reservoir Dog wrote in post #17624337
You got almost the eye (just kidding )

I know what you are feeling , me it's always with the kingfisher in my area, they made me crazy like they do not want to be photographed and hide on purpose when i have the camera with me, but when i don't have it they show up

Yep. They don't work for us, they work on their on schedule and they do their own things. I have to respect that and keep trying.

Peter2516 wrote in post #17624399
I feel you...

mileslong24 wrote in post #17624575
Been there. I'm guessing juvie red shoulder.

TedEllis wrote in post #17624903
As Forest Gump once said "It happens". It has happened to me more than one

Thanks guys. I went back to the park and saw the hawk again, this time flying around. After about 45 mins it perched on a palm tree but I did not get a clear sighting. Will visit the park again 'till I get it.