Hawk Hunting

[Canyon Hiker]

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..








Darin

[Singletracklovr]

Great action shots CH.

[Speed]

Cools shots!

Proving the old adage - location, location, location!

[armando_m]

WOW !

incredible captures !!!

were you hidden under something ?

[CaraRose]

That first shot is stunning!

[DennisT]

Patience aptly rewarded

[rogerrayenz]

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.

[Loupey]

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?

[Canyon Hiker]

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

[paulnj]

very unique images!!