Red-Tailed hawk

[SJGordon]

While waiting for a White-tailed deer I had just seen to come into view I heard the flapping of wings behind me and turned around just in time to see a Red-Tailed hawk grab a Chipmunk off the ground. He then landed on a fallen tree less than 20 feet from where I was sitting. In my excitement over this once-in-a-lifetime chance I missed that my son had changed my ISO to 800 :(. So while I had the chance to capture some truly amazing photos, I only managed to get some decent ones.

All taken with my Sony a200 and my 26 year old Minolta 70-210mm f:4 "beercan" lens.

ISO:800; 1/250"; f:6.3; 85mm; Handheld
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/5758970588_f20387d8bc_b.jpg

ISO:800; 1/320"; f:6.3; 85mm; Handheld
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/5758970638_a967671cbf_b.jpg

ISO:800; 1/400"; f:4.5; 135mm braced on a tree limb
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5758426763_ace9a09a1a_b.jpg

ISO:800; 1/160"; f:8; 210mm; braced on a tree limb
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/5758970952_72792973ab_b.jpg

I learned a lesson the hard way today... ALWAYS check your settings, all of them. Even the ones you "know" are right. After 47 years being out in the woods and wilds, I have NEVER had a Bird of Prey make a catch, kill, and then eat it so close; and I don't expect it to happen again before I die of old age. It was an awesome 20 minutes spent watching and shooting this bird, just to have my heart sink when I went back to my truck and notice the ISO setting.

[sandrac]

wow truely amazing shots

[DoctorJazz]

Scott,
These are unbelievable!! You did a great job staying calm enough to get these amazing shots, esp. the last two closeups. Magnificent work!!

[delboy]

Great Photography. #4 the best with good focus on the eyes and good DOf showing all the bird in focus.

Delboy.

[gjtoth]

Looks like you managed to pull them out just fine through PP. Congratulations on a fine series.

[eyerkish]

Great series, Scott. What an opportunity to see this first hand.

[Kaye]

Scott, what great captures, and as you said perhaps a once in a life time opportunity. I guess this depends how much time you spend in the "wild" awaiting opportunities like this.
I love them all, but No. 4 stands out with the great focus on the eye.

[SJGordon]

Thank you everybody for the kind comments. I shot a LOT of photos of the entire thing, but some of them are pretty gruesome :). I am glad there are no 12' tall Hawks in the World, I wouldn't step outside and take the chance of becoming breakfast... quick and nasty. For being shot at ISO 800 on an entry level camera they did turn out alright, not as sharp as I would have liked due to some noise reduction, but passable.

Kaye, if I had a dollar for every hour spent out in the woods, I would have the baddest photography kit you could dream of, and probably 2 or 3 of everything. There were times growing up and through my late 20's that I spent more time sleeping outside under the stars in some back-country place, than I did sleeping in a bed.