Whine/Showing Off/Bad Timing - DPChallenge Forums

04/18/2003 05:19:43 PM · #1

About two weeks ago, I got the best Fauna shot I've ever taken. A Cooper's Hawk was hunting my wife's finch feeders (Cooper's eat other birds ;) It was kinda nasty out, raining and all, but I was able to wander up to nearly 20 feet away (never been THAT close to a wild, loose preditory bird before) and snapped off a few shots before it got too nervous and flew away. I hope he comes back!!
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Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/18/2003 05:24:14 PM · #2

Wow, nice shot! Especially the color on the beak. Aren't Cooper's the ones with stripes on the underside of the wings? I think I've seen a pair here in Oakland, too.

You can put a few Peeps up on the platform and lure it back...

04/18/2003 05:27:02 PM · #3

"You can put a few Peeps up on the platform and lure it back..."

Paul, I can always count on you for a suggestion. LOL, think they'd like Peeps? Yes, Cooper's are the ones with the stripes. I also liked the water droplets on his head!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/18/2003 05:33:14 PM · #4

No, they probably won't like Peeps! But I thought it was a safer suggestion to make than baiting your trap with a real bird...I'd rather not have the thread highjacked into a discussion of animal rights...

I have some shots of bald eagles from up by my dad's, but I'll have to hunt up the disks. Do you happen to have a Flying Tiger at the air museum?

joanns

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

04/18/2003 05:39:55 PM · #5

Swash, wonderful shot! lately, I have been seeing big soaring birds in Redmond that I have never seen in the area before. I haven't noticed any stripes. They perch themselves on the highest point of a tree. Do you think they could be hawks? Mabe eagles? I know, you think I should get a photo of one so you can tell me. My telephoto lens isn't enough to capture those great birds as high as they fly and perch. You photo makes me think that it could be one of these hawks though. It is funny how now I see them nearly every day and never before in the 15 years I have lived here.

Great shot!

bruster54

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6

04/18/2003 05:40:14 PM · #6

Great capture! I've been trying to get a hawk to sit still and they always seem to have better things to do! Way to go!

04/18/2003 05:47:40 PM · #7

Paul, I honestly don't know if a Flying Tiger is there or not, I do think they have a P-38 (I think that's the right model) on display, but no telling if it's the "real deal" or just painted that way.

Joanns - We mostly see Red Tailed Hawks around here in that body style. Bald Eagles do frequent Lake Samamish, but mostly on the more remote parts. Quite a few also live on Mercer Island. Good photo opportunites for Balds usually in the fall on the Skagit River, about half way up. Balds are usually pretty obvious, even in silhouette, the white tale feather show up pretty well. If the tail is dark, it's probably a hawk.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/18/2003 05:48:45 PM · #8

Originally posted by bruster54:

Great capture! I've been trying to get a hawk to sit still and they always seem to have better things to do!

This vulture was in a hurry too...

04/18/2003 05:50:23 PM · #9

Nice silhouette! Those finger feathers certainly are difinitive!

Oh yes, I knew you were joking about the peeps. I do have feathery cat toys!!! (Would that be mean/unfair?)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/18/2003 05:53:58 PM · #10

Originally posted by Swashbuckler:

I do have feathery cat toys!!! (Would that be mean/unfair?)

Only to your cat -- the hawk will just have to live with the frustration.

joanns

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

04/18/2003 07:04:23 PM · #11

Wow, thanks for all of the info! They must be hawks that I'm seeing. I'm taking another trip to the Skagit Valley this weekend so maybe I'll check out the river for eagles.

BTW, heres a fauna I took on Sunday. It's not a good shot but it was exciting to me for two reasons, one, it's the first time I pulled over on the freeway to take a photo - now I know I'm a photographer - and two, there were 4 deer eating dandilions on a hill along I-90 and I have never seen a deer that close before, except at the zoo.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/18/2003 07:16:53 PM · #12

Nice shot -- nice to see some freeway fauna which is NOT roadkill!