Saturday, May 23, 2009

Red-tailed Hawk feast

 

RTH s

I came home a few nights ago to find this handsome Red-tailed Hawk having dinner (a la Red Squirrel) on the next door neighbors front yard. No narrative needed for the rest of the pictures but I will warn you in advance, it gets a little gross.

 

RTH eating s

 

RTH red squirrel

 

 

RTH b

 

RTH stretch

 

RTH c

RTH eyes closed

 

RTH ready to fly

 

 

DSCF4746

Photographing a bird in flight seems to be a real challenge for me. Some people have it and some don’t. So far, I don’t. 

I can’t be sure, and find it hard to believe, but judging by what I can read on the band # along with the markings on this Hawk, I’m actually thinking it’s the same one that frequented our neighborhood last year on a regular basis.

19 comments:

Marfa (formula for a life) said...

Hi there, I've been reading your blog for a couple of months and I enjoy it a lot. You take very nice photos. As far as the issue with the birds in flight, you need to look at your camera settings. The problem that you're having is a slow shutter speed. Your camera takes a few seconds to take the photo after you press the shutter button. You should familiarize yourself with your camera's shutter speed and aperture settings. Shutter speed determines how fast the camera takes the picture, whereas aperture helps you with how much light enters the camera when you press the shutter button so that your photo is not overexposed or underexposed (washed out or too dark).

Here are a couple of helpful sites:

http://photo.net/learn/basic-photo-tips/aperture-shutterspeed-iso/

http://photo.net/learn/basic-photo-tips/aperture-shutterspeed-iso/

Once you become familiar with these features you can take some really cool photos, like freezing a waterfall to the degree where you can see the drops or making the whole fall look like a blanket.

Hope I've helped you some.

A New England Life said...

Thank you Marfa for leaving a comment. I will certainly look at both websites you have listed. I know there is much more to learn about photography, and basically I'm a novice who hopes for great things that don't often come to fruition. It's all through no fault of my own.

Any help is always of great appreciation.

Sharon

Anonymous said...

I ALWAYS enjoy your photos, Sharon... even when they don't come out perfect.

Have a great week-end!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

A New England Life said...

Thank Di! That's nice of you to say : ) I know there's room for improvement though and I would love to learn more.

Marfa, both websites you left were the same. I assume you meant to leave 2 different ones?

Sharon

The Good Life in Virginia said...

absolutely great shots of the red tail sharon...enjoyed them.
and we all have lots to learn in the world of photography, it is nice when others are helpful and share tips with us. i know i am always appreciative.
have a lovely afternoon.

The Good Life in Virginia said...

absolutely great shots of the red tail sharon...enjoyed them.
and we all have lots to learn in the world of photography, it is nice when others are helpful and share tips with us. i know i am always appreciative.
have a lovely afternoon.

Dawn Fine said...

Amazing shots! I took my first bird in flight photo the other day...boy do I have allot to learn..I am a point and shoot gal..I guess I will look at those links one of your readers sent.
Again..great captures even the grusome ones..in one the hawk looks like he is giving you the evil eye..
Oh..really great to see how red that tail really is.

A New England Life said...

I'm kind of a point and shoot kind of gal too but it would be nice to shoot a picture of a bird in flight. Already the link Marfa sent has helped me to figure things out a bit more.

Jayne said...

So cool to see a photo where that red tail is so gloriously... red... rusty? :c) What a treat to be able to see him being a hawk up close and personal.

Kim said...

Sharon, what FANTASTIC photos of the Red-tailed Hawk!! Such clarity in all of them. I too have problems w/ birds in flight so I will be checking out those links.

You, novice???? Judging by those photos I say no way! ;o)

Dog Trot Farm said...

Sharon I am always in awe of your photos, keep up the great work. I don't think that hawk wanted to share his meal, eat and run, I mean fly!

Becky said...

What a beautiful bird of prey! I think your photos are great and I do appreciate you sharing your world with us.

Allison said...

Can I borrow him to take care of a little red squirrel problem I am having? tee hee. Great shots--I love that he looks like he is wearing pantaloons!

Cedar ... said...

I always love a red-tail, thanks for such great pics! My hope is that sometime one will be flying over my yard or walking in my driveway and somehow will shed a tail feather! Of course with no harm done to hawk or others!

Shelley said...

Great to see this hawk up close - you got excellent shots!!! Wow!

Andrea said...

Just a magnificent bird. Thank you for sharing the whole story. A~

Susan Moorhead said...

Your photos have such astonishing clarity to them...nice to see a redtail up close - they are spectacular (poor squirrel!)

Mary said...

FANTASTIC.

I need help with that something called shutter speed, too. My birds in flight are terrible.

You did good, Sharon.

Eve said...

Wow nice job Sharon. That's a nice big Red-tail!