Mating Red Shouldered Hawks...

[stealthman_1]

And a few others. New D7000, check, new 2XIII, check, 600VR, check and the birds are quite amorous for me today! After watching the turkeys chase each other around all morning looking for love at 500 yards, I headed down to the Lake to do a little testing. Little did I realize how much shooting I'd get in. It all started as soon as I shut the car door. I heard this male hawk screeching and he flew over and mounted right above me.
1800mm EFL @ f9, 1/1000, ISO1250, full frame, with me nearly flat on my back in the parking lot, handheld. VR might have been on, I don't really remember...:biggrin:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Victorious! 600mm naked, f8, 1/2000, 75% of FF.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Looking for Another

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Ducks Need Love Too

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Earlier, while shooting a focus target off the deck, these turkeys walked by...Full frame

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

75% Frame

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Merganser at 1800mm EFL, Full frame

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Landing on top of me, 1800mm EFL, Full frame.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Light could have been better today, but I'm encouraged early by both the D7000 and the 2XIII. Hope I'm half as lucky tomorrow!:biggrin:

 

[Baxter]

That's quite an impressive new rig. Now if you can just get the birds to back up a little bit . . .

 

[sprdv1]

Like they're walking on water! Great shots

 

[stealthman_1]

Thanks! Never has been a problem of raptors too close until the other day! Hope I have that problem more often. :biggrin: I've seen the female (who's in 2 and 3 even though I allude it's a male) every day this week and now know her nesting sight. Hope she provides a good number of frames this spring.