Red-tailed hawk and a vole...caution

Chip · Dec 30, 2005

Hey folks,
Hope your weather has been better than here in Washington. The 10 day forecast has rain and overcast everyday. I had to get out and shoot though.

I saw this hawk today sitting on a gazebo type structure looking into the grass. He let me drive right up to him, then he took off for the grass below:I got out and rested the lens on a wood rail under the gazebo and got maybe 2shots off. All with 300 2.8 and TC 1.7.

1/200s f/5.0 at 500.0mm iso400

He flew back to the shelter right above my head with a large vole, so I got back in my car and shot from the window ledge and beanbag.
1/320s f/6.3 at 500.0mm iso500

I had time to take the tc off and shoot the 300 straight.
1/250s f/5.0 at 300.0mm iso200

I tried to dial down the ISO for a clean shot and he started ripping at this meal hence the motion blur.
1/60s f/5.6 at 300.0mm iso100

It took him about 8 minutes to finish this guy off. He was still sitting there when I drove away. What a cool thing to see.

Flew · Dec 30, 2005

Excellent shots Chip. This kind of opportunity doesn't come along very often, and you were certainly well prepared. :smile:

Johntu · Dec 30, 2005

Wow, awesome capture, pictures are so clear and sharp, you can see the guts of the mice every where.

Chip · Dec 30, 2005

Flew said:

Excellent shots Chip. This kind of opportunity doesn't come along very often, and you were certainly well prepared. :smile:
Click to expand...

You are right Frank. To see a Raptor hunt and eat his meal right in front of me is really rare. Thanks for the comments.

Chip · Dec 30, 2005

Johntu said:

Wow, awesome capture, pictures are so clear and sharp, you can see the guts of the mice every where.
Click to expand...

Thanks John. Yes his sharp beak and powerful talons really did a number on the Vole.

helmet155 · Dec 30, 2005

Beautiful images and a dark morph RTH to boot!

What cam body are you shooting with?

helmet155 · Dec 30, 2005

Nevermind, just checked your pbase site...WOW...the owls you shot this month are amazing!!!

Phil K · Dec 31, 2005

Beautiful capture, Chip.

kramp · Dec 31, 2005

Same weather here, awesome pictures, giblets are a bonus.

Martin

dbirdsong · Dec 31, 2005

Great shots...

radz · Dec 31, 2005

Wow excellent capture.
Sharp shots&cool composition.

mike mac · Dec 31, 2005

Very lcuky caputre and you did real well with the bad lighting

MiriamJ · Dec 31, 2005

Nice, Sharp, Well-done captures. Good you were prepared.

lowlight_junkie · Dec 31, 2005

Gross, but really cool! Not one for blood but you have to appreciate the beauty of such creatures.

james thiel · Dec 31, 2005

Chip you did great. Bill and I went to the Skagit again yesterday. It was dark, dark and then darker!! Few eagles around but the boats chased them off pretty early. Are you seeing some good eagles on your beach? Maybe I need to make the drive over there. Yes, get that sun out. This weather is for the birds, not us photographers!!!

bfjr · Dec 31, 2005

great Raptor feast shots
very nicely done !!

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Red-tailed hawk and a vole...caution

Chip

Flew

Johntu

Chip

Chip

helmet155

helmet155

Phil K Subscribing Member

kramp

dbirdsong Guest

radz

mike mac

MiriamJ

lowlight_junkie

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bfjr Guest