First Red Tail Hawk

Not sure why I brought my camera to work today, just had a feeling inside... Well, this is my first Red Tail Hawk, albeit only half of him... My co-worker alerted me about mid morning about it... I said WOW, this is awesome... He was on a lamp pole so this is the best I could get... He wasn't moving and I didn't want to scare him away, I took a bunch of shots and started to walk back into work and looked back and he was gone... I was hoping to get an in-flight but not to be had today I guess... I'm thrilled needless to say... Last year I had the opportunity to get within 20' of one on the ground (no camera) and then it flew off.. This taken with my 400mm f/5.6

Thanks for looking...

Great captures, well done.

wow thats real nice, looks like he was close, keep your eyes open he will be back!

Cyclop wrote in post #8948813
Great captures, well done.

Thanks, I got lucky that's for sure...

BGgraphy wrote in post #8948941
wow thats real nice, looks like he was close, keep your eyes open he will be back!

Thank you... He was around 50' away... They are around but usually I'm without a camera, or their flying too high..

Wonderful captures....I'd be thrilled with either one of these shots.

Great shots

Beautiful detail Norman and congrats on the new one as well.

Great captures Norman.

Duane N wrote in post #8949185
Great captures Norman.

Thanks Duane.. Looks like the lens may be ok now..

sugarzebra wrote in post #8949158
Beautiful detail Norman and congrats on the new one as well.

Thanks much... I've been trying for over a year to get a decent shot of one... I had a few chances but it seemed like the sunlight was always working against me...

artyman wrote in post #8949132
Great shots

Thanks Arty, much appreciated..

Shar824 wrote in post #8949111
Wonderful captures....I'd be thrilled with either one of these shots.

Thanks Sharon, yes I'm thrilled alright, been after one of these for a long time...

Congrats, these are really good.

nice close-ups of one of my favorite birds. Last week I had a chance to take lots of shots of a RTH and I was giddy as a schoolboy

Fine shots Norman, love the detail in these. I have never been close to one, but do see them flying over the canyon.

ajosteve wrote in post #8950575
Fine shots Norman, love the detail in these. I have never been close to one, but do see them flying over the canyon.

Thanks Steve, I was definitely excited and had a difficult time keeping the camera still..

gabebalazs wrote in post #8950028
nice close-ups of one of my favorite birds. Last week I had a chance to take lots of shots of a RTH and I was giddy as a schoolboy

Thank you, I guess you could say I was giddy as well...

sparker1 wrote in post #8949684
Congrats, these are really good.

Thanks Sparker, if I had to change one thing it would be to go from spot metering to partial or evaluative, next time...

Wonderful portraits Norman... great opportunity and capture... excellent work.

db

Some nice shots of this guy. Red Tails are a bird in short supply here along the river. They seem to like it up on the bluffs though, more open space to fly I guess.