On Monday, April 7, I was taking a drive when I spied four frenetic crows. That is a good sign of there being some predatory bird around. This time it was a red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree (below). Knowing how quickly the hawk would disappear if I were to stop the car for photos, I stopped far off, fixed my camera settings, turned off the radio, and then crept at one mile an hour to a distance that I felt would not send the bird off. Then I leaned out of the car window to shoot (if I had left the car, for sure it would've flown off). I only got two shots before the hawk lifted off from the tree. But I had already aimed and focused, so I was able to quickly capture the hawk as it flew away.
I was able to take more photos of the hawk in other trees. It was easy to find him simply by following the crows that followed the hawk. But none of the photos were as good as these. I am thrilled with the results. When clicked, these photos will open, full size, in a new window.To David McMahon of authorbog: these photos are totally untouched. I want to thank you for challenging me (and all photographers) to more carefully work with my camera settings and not with my software.
Thank you for visiting.
Technorati Tags: Buteo jamaicensis, Red-tailed hawk 
Sky Watch Friday_/\_/\_
Perfect, just perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe firts one is a hymn to beauty!
Fantastic sky watch capture.
ReplyDeleteCome see mine too.
Awesome, Andree. I love what you do.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot! Great timing. I love reading how careful you had to be to get the shot - dedicated and determined!!
ReplyDeleteI am so envious! I totally love hawks and never seem to be able to capture a good one. The first one is awesome.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great.
ReplyDeleteThe hawk have waited for your shot.
I take my hat off to you with these fine shots.. a beautiful raptor caught for Sky Watch and caught so well..
ReplyDeleteHawks and Falcons are my favourite birds.. always have been so I am well pleased to see these..
Tom
I take my hat off to you with these fine shots.. a beautiful raptor caught for Sky Watch and caught so well..
ReplyDeleteHawks and Falcons are my favourite birds.. always have been so I am well pleased to see these..
Tom
Fantastic shots! It's always nice to come upon such a sight.
ReplyDeleteYou should be thrilled with these shots. They are fantastic!!!
ReplyDeletePerfect shots! The first one is the most beautiful SkyWatch Friday photo that I've seen today!
ReplyDeleteAndrée
ReplyDeleteHe is shy :)
Beautiful shots ... you're like a hunter stalking your prey!
ReplyDeleteWow Wow! Those are very very beautiful photos! Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice and fun SWF:)
What a privilege to live in a place that enables you to take this kind of pictures.Awsome
ReplyDeleteAn awesome image of the red-tail in flight! Great action and lighting!
ReplyDeleteI have had a few oportunities these last few months but the lighting has never been right.
Thanks for the comments on Country Captures.
Wow, that flying one is awesome! You did a good job here.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
David Webb: Pictures of Nature
Wow, that is a sensational shot. One to be rightly proud of.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing!
ReplyDeleteI know how hard this is. On a recent trip back from my daughter's we drive a highway I know to be a wonderful place to see them as we drive by.Saw maybe 20- couldn't get any good shots. I even tried today to get one on a country drive - you have done an excellent job! I admire your immensely.
Wow! these photos are superb? You must have a really long lens.
ReplyDeleteawesome capture.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Great Raptor shot. I send greetings and kudos from deep south Texas.
ReplyDeleteWell that deserves a hand applaud. fabulous
ReplyDeleteGreat! :)
ReplyDeleteVery well captured.
Love the first shot.
Beautiful pictures,how lucky you were to get those lovely photos of the Hawk.Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic sky watch capture.
Wow. Fine photography. I like this example a lot. One of my favorite subjects.
ReplyDeleteAbraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio.
The first picture is simply majestic. What a great shot.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind mention - I'm only an email / comment away if ever you need anything.
Bravo for a wonderful pair of shots.
what a perfect timing...
ReplyDeleteMy SWF in here Thanks
wow....great shot
ReplyDeleteWill you visit my SWF Thanks.
Wow, Il love the way the hawk looks against the sky. These are really nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wonderful pictures of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). I see the birds quite often and love to watch
ReplyDeletethem high up in the sky.
Great SWF shots.
Cheers from Canada,
Gisela
Wow..... I wish I had taken those shots. :) They really look majestic against the sky.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAndree, beautiful shots of a beautiful creature! Thanks for the info about lightening causing the green in my SW shot! No cell phone service in Barton Vermont? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteWow! I have taken quite a few redtail hawk photos, but your first one here is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAmazing image, fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThat flying one is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic, Andrée! You rose to the challenge, and produced a couple of remarkable shots. Very good of you to acknowledge the man from Melbourne. I liked hearing the back-story of how you got those shots.
ReplyDelete**********
ReplyDeleteten stars for your work.
JU Gioli
no wonder you are thrilled, these are great, and it sounds like you worked hard for them!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Yes yes yes...I must get to grips with my camera settings! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thank you! Thank you! The first picture reaaly made my day!
ReplyDeleteI love birds:D
Petunia's SWF
that first one is jaw dropping...
ReplyDeleteAndree: Amazing, simply amazing. I would love to get a photo this great. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing! Spectacular! Beathtaking! Unbelievable!!!
ReplyDelete(Ummm, if you can't tell - I LOVE LOVE LOVE these!)
I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm jealous too hehe I've been trying to get a good hawk shot for months!
These are spectacular! You did awesome!
Amazing, great shot.
ReplyDeleteDenise BC
I loved reading how you crept up on him to get these shots. I'm so glad it was a camera you were holding!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. I love all the birds you find for us.
woooow, amazing shot, great job.
ReplyDeleteThese are superb shots and I'm full of admiration for your patience in capturing the first one.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sky watch red tail Andree! I'll stop back to say hi!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great photo and knowing all you had to do to shoot it, turned it still more interesting.
ReplyDeleteFantastic shot!
ReplyDeleteNice hawk in the blue sky!
Have a nice weekend,
Santilli
They are awesome!
ReplyDeleteMy photos are not touched up because I don't know photoshop nor do I own one. It's mainly point and click.
Stunning shots!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about getting to know your camera is the photos it produces. Rather than photoshop
ReplyDelete(great for cropping though)try using the setting to your advantage. I often play around with speeds and focus for effects. Your bird photos are terrific to meas they are, and i lokk forward to more.
Thank you for stopping by and your kind comments.
Congratulation for this photo.
ReplyDeleteYou take the just moment.
I will came back.
Nice capture, i don't edit my pictures ether, for one I don't know how two i like them for what they are. Hope your enjoying your weekend and I really enjoyed your blog.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Andrée. Just stunning photos! You did a good job here!
ReplyDeletethese are the masters of the sky!
ReplyDeleteI love your hawk shot. I am so glad you don't have to contend with tornadoes where you are. They can be horribly destructive and devastating.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great shots.
ReplyDeleteWow! These are GREAT!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot. Sorry it took me so long to respond to your blog. I was out of town this weekend.
ReplyDeleteSome great camera work Andree! Super! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shot of the hawk. Great capture.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photos and well worth the effort!
ReplyDelete