Hawk Poses | Anticipation After scanning for a while, the Rad-tailed Hawk seems to have spotted a potential prey. It’s sharply focused at something in the clearing below. Notice the change in posture as well as intent in its face. For the whole story with all images, see Hawk Poses | a 7 Image Story.
Hawk Poses | Scanning The Rad-tailed Hawk sat on its perch scanning the clearing below for prey. Its perch was not very high; only 20-30 feet off the ground. With its keen eyesight, it can easily spot the smallest movement below. For the whole story with all images, see Hawk Poses | a 7 Image Story.
Hawk Poses | a 7 Image Story It’s all about a single hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk, that posed for me at several locations along my walkabout today through the forest. While walking along the trail, I spotted the hawk in a tree about twenty yards off the trail. It must be accustomed to people walking the trail. It did not move as I walked by and stopped to capture images with different poses from different angles. It was obviously hunting. Then suddenly, it would take off after its prey. After a miss, it would then land on the branch of another tree along the path. As I approached again, it would let me captive several poses before moving to another tree along the trail. It did not seem to care about me. Rather, its attention was focused sharply on hunting.
Red-tailed Hawks blend into the the background forest so well it’s hard to get a nice image. Even after several locations and several angles at each location, the backgrounds are still distracting. Perhaps, another walkabout through the woods after a snowfall will yield better images. Most Red-tailed Hawks around here stay all winter.
Photog Note: The Nikon 1 V3 is still my preferred carry camera for capturing daily walkabout images. It shoots much like a DSLR, but is much lighter to carry. Although a bit noisy at higher ISOs, the image quality is quite good, particularly for posting. The 2.7 crop factor helps improve images where the subject is very small like birds. Even very large birds, like the red-tailed hawk, get pretty small in the frame at even a short distance. A Nikon AFS 70-300mm lens on a Nikon 1 V3 with its 2.7 crop factor, becomes a 189-810mm lens. Of course, the image quality will not be nearly as good as with the expensive lens, but it’s still possible to capture very nice bird images. For more information on bird photography with a Nikon 1 V3, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Hawk Poses.
Click any image below for a slide show.
Spring 2019 Hodgepodge | Red-tailed Hawk Red-tailed Hawks frequent tree along my walkabout. This hawk is giving me the hawk stare as she protects her nest. The nest is at least 30 feet high in the upper branches of a large tree. For the whole story with all images, see Spring 2019 Hodgepodge | a 7 Image Story.
Reflections on 2018 | Red-tailed Hawk This angle is an unusual angle to capture a Red-tailed Hawk image! Most of the time, it’s hard to see that red tail. This lucky image was captured through the windshield when I stopped to see why the hawk was sitting along the side of the road. Why a 50mm lens? It was the lens on the camera sitting in right seat. Remember, 50mm with the Nikon 1 V3 2.7 crop factor turns it into a 135mm lens. For the whole story with all images, see Reflections on 2018 | a 7 Image Story.
Summer 2018 Hodgepodge | Red-tailed Hawk This Red-tailed Hawk was sitting on the airport security this summer as I passed through the gates; maybe 20 yards away. He did not seem to mind me photographing him as long as I stayed in my vehicle. To all images, see Summer 2018 Hodgepodge | a 7 Image Story.
Spring 2018 Hodgepodge | Red-tailed Hawk Sure is an unusual angle to capture a Red-tailed Hawk image! This lucky Red-tailed Hawk image was captured through the window shield when I stopped to see why the hawk was sitting along the side of the road. Most of the time, it’s hard to see that red tail. Why a 50mm lens? It was the lens on the camera sitting in right seat. Remember, 50mm with the Nikon 1 V3 2.7 crop factor turns into 135mm. See Spring 2018 Hodgepodge | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
Spring 2018 Hodgepodge | a 7 Image Story It’s time to share a few images from this spring. They are in no particular order; just random images I find interesting from this spring.
The aerial image captures the scene out the windshield flying north along the western coast of Michigan. Great weather, light winds, and mild waves make Lake Michigan look serene.
Sandhill Crane’s must not be as scared of people in a kayak. While kayaking on Pleasant Lake, I let the kayak float slowly close to the lake’s edge, but did not see the Sandhill until within 10 yards and moving closer. The Sandhill did not move much. Finally, I realized that I was too close and stopped the kayak by using the paddles. Even with the movement of the paddles, the Sandhill still did not move much. After a few minutes, it slowly walked out of the water, onto the bank, and into the woods.
Lilacs are in season in spring. Just snipping a few from the bush gives the house the smell of spring.
A lucky Red-tailed Hawk image was captured through the window shield when I stopped to see why the hawk was sitting along the side of the road. Most of the time, it’s hard to see that red tail.
Hey, what can I say. It’s a door on a lake. Doesn’t every lakes have one? Well, maybe not. What does it mean? Whatever you want it to mean. Perhaps, it’s a bit funny or a bit sad; perhaps, reflective. It’s only bounded by your own mind.
What’s more spring than a Canada Goose and her goslings. Again, the kayak really helps capture this family in their native habitat. The telephoto keeps me far enough way not to disturb the family.
At the end of a nice day trip, the sun sets just as leaving the airport. Nothing like coming back to your home field for the night!
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Spring 2018 Hodgepodge.
Click any image below for a slide show!
