Hawk Hunting

I was hoping for the grab but he missed. I shot this with the camera almost flat on the ground and a remote shutter release..and allot of watching and waiting..


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Darin

Great action shots CH.

Cools shots!

Proving the old adage - location, location, location!

WOW !

incredible captures !!!

were you hidden under something ?

That first shot is stunning!

Patience aptly rewarded

Wow great action and a wonderful shot and at last you both win as hawk wins with its hunt and your wins with your great pictures,and at last who looses,who cares.Very attractive photos.loved them all.

The wide-angle shot is very cool!

How did you know to set up the camera in this location? Is there a vole hole or mouse nest?

Thanks for the comments.
Loupey, I have spent the last month studying and observing this area. Its about a 2 mile x10 mile area of open fields with marshland that is a breeding ground for migrateing birds this time of year.
I started to notice that the red-tail hawks would feed and prey on the thousands of blackbirds that flock the area. This Particular spot I have logged 5-20 red-tails every day within a two hour period.
So this is what i did. I staked 25 decoy blackbirds in this spot. I attached fishing line to 10 of then. When I would see a bird of any size I would pull on the lines to shake the sticks. Now this tactic I had never heard of, but I figured i would try. I layed in a ditch about 20 yards from my camera with a tarp covered in the foliage around me, as well as my camera with a wireless remote shutter. Now this didn't fool any of the adult red-tails...but it did fool this juvenile in the picture. It swooped down and actually grabbed one of the decoys, but quickly released it when he realized he had been fooled. I also had mating calls of red-tails playing periodically through a cd player. yeah I know..a bit over the top, but I know the shots I want..now I am figuring out ways to get them :)

Darin

very unique images!!