Bird behavior interests me. Simple actions I have not observed before excite me. Standing on my daughters deck yesterday I saw a Red Tailed Hawk fly up out of the creek bed landing on a branch about 50 yards away. With the naked eye through all the branches of other trees I could only make out that the bird was perched in a different shape.
After going inside and grabbing the camera it took me a while to relocate the hawk in the woods. The white breast finally caught my eye. Switching the lens to manual I adjusted the focus to see through the branches. The hawk was perched like a cormorant or vulture does to dry their wings. This is the first time I saw a hawk do this.
It was not long until the hawk spotted me. I was not moving much just ever so slightly to try and get the hawks head in a clear spot with a solid background. The ability of a hawks eyes to pick up movement is incredible. The hawks will need to do a lot of drying out today as sheets of wind driven rain are slashing the windows. Have a great day and stay dry.
He does look wet.
New Hampshire Gardener,
The belly feathers really look wet. I am surprised at the detail on this shot. It was overcast and I had to shoot at 1/80th of a second handheld. Well I propped my elbow on my large belly as a rest. One good thing about being over weight I suppose.
You have a steadier hand than I do, for sure.
These are great shots. He needs a hair dryer!
Montucky,
Thanks a hair dryer it could use.