Soaring by cjwhite

Soaring

This is the Red-tailed hawk I've been stalking. The sun was shining today and he was kind enough to fly over my head.

I have two goals for this hawk. I want a flight pic where you can see its eyes. (I have a thing about animal eyes.) I also want a good close-up of him in a tree or near the ground.

I took four shots of it on a fence post this afternoon, but I wasn't able to get close enough, before he flew away. They were the closest pics I've gotten, but still not as crisp as I want.

I read a fun fact about them. Filmmakers frequently use the cry of a Red-tailed hawk to represent any hawk or eagle anywhere in the world.

Thank you for your lovely responses to yesterday's bird pics!!! :0)
Beautiful shot!
January 24th, 2012  
wow amazing capture!
January 24th, 2012  
Beautiful. Still haven't caught mine.
January 25th, 2012  
I like how the hawk looks with the bright blue sky behind him!
January 25th, 2012  
So powerful and free. Well done.
January 25th, 2012  
Great details, Carolyn! This is my hawk stalking story, but my photos have a long way to go. http://www.collagemama.com/2012/01/lavender-pandas-part-ii-spirit-guides.html
January 25th, 2012  
Really impressive shot!
January 25th, 2012  
That is awesome. Great shot!
January 25th, 2012  
This is really great. I love how you can actually make out his red tail.
January 25th, 2012  
Beautiful shot!
January 25th, 2012  
Kaz
Trying to picture you stalking Caroline and I just can't!!! lol Great capture.
January 25th, 2012  
beautiful!!!
January 25th, 2012  
good job, and good luck capturing more. we had one circling over us in the lumberyard a few weeks ago and dang if i didn't have my little camera in my pocket!
January 25th, 2012  
Nice shot. One of these days he will sit real proud for you
January 25th, 2012  
good catch.
January 25th, 2012  
Well caught , looks fabulous against the blue sky !
January 25th, 2012  
Great capture! I like the lighting. The blue sky really is a great "back drop" for the hawk.
January 25th, 2012  
Bulls Eye! You caught a great action shot here. He's just teasing you and one of these days, he'll be kind enough to pose. Did you use a 300 lens for this, Carolyn?
January 25th, 2012  
Really awesome capture!
January 25th, 2012  
I'm loving your bird, and especially this hawk and your stalking. I would be proud if I had taken this photo.
January 25th, 2012  
the lighting on the tail and wing feather tips is great, very beautiful in flight shot!. i'm sure you'll get the eye and close-up shots soon, with your bird whispering skills. great info too ... interesting to know about the movie sound effects.
January 25th, 2012  
beautiful acton image, so crisp and clear
January 25th, 2012  
You captured his beautiful wing span here. You can always use a caged iguana as bait...they really like them! Don't worry, we rescued the poor reptiles in time, but the hawk had landed on the sun cage before my son noticed and brought the scared lizards back onto the porch for safety.
January 25th, 2012  
splendido :)


January 25th, 2012  
Just look at that glorious wing span. Perfect.
January 25th, 2012  
beautiful shot; I knew you'd get him eventually. (you're brave to shoot a bird that's overhead...you must not have ever been bombed by a bird, and I don't mean in the photo-bomb way!)
January 25th, 2012  
Fantastic!
January 25th, 2012  
wow, brilliant, glad you got your shot, birds are so hard to catch when in flight. we have 3 buzzards that regularly fly over here but i can never get them when they are flying.. great job
January 25th, 2012  
GREAT photo!!!!
January 25th, 2012  
So beautiful!!!
January 25th, 2012  
Gorgeous capture!
January 25th, 2012  
Such a tease he is ;) This is a great shot of the wing span though... hope you get the shot you want soon!
January 25th, 2012  
Fantastic capture. The wingspan is huge!
January 25th, 2012  
Excellent capture.
January 25th, 2012  
amazing shot!!
January 25th, 2012  
Beautiful capture of an impressive bird of prey!
January 25th, 2012  
Ha, love the fun fact, it drive me crazy when they use the RTH cry in movies when an eagle is flying by! I mean, come on!

Good luck getting the eye shot, you'll probably need a telephoto lens or a blind, sometimes a car can be a good blind.
January 25th, 2012  
Nice capture!
January 25th, 2012  
Beautiful colour, amazing capture!
January 25th, 2012  
Oh well done you! He is majestic, I am sure you will achieve your aim:0)
January 25th, 2012  
Wonderful shot Carolyn.
January 25th, 2012  
What a great capture of him!
January 25th, 2012  
Amazing! Look at him flying like he's the king of the sky!
January 25th, 2012  
Absolutely gorgeous deep blue and clear shot of his under belly! I'm envious! I always come practically nose-to-nose with them on my run but never manage my camera in time.
January 25th, 2012  
You are my hero you little stalker you! Beautiful flight shot! Perfect sky!
January 26th, 2012  
@karenann Thank you, Karenann! I use my Canon 75mm-300mm zoom lens on all my bird shots. I'm sorry I didn't answer your question last night. I wasn't feeling well and I didn't get all my commenting done.
January 26th, 2012  
A lovely shot and your title is perfect for such a majestic looking bird. It's interesting to see how outstretched all the wings are to get every ounce of glide and lift possible.
January 26th, 2012  
Wow, greeat focus! those wing feather are captivating
January 26th, 2012  
Beautiful detail in his feathers
January 26th, 2012  
Such a fantastic capture... wow.,.. wow.... and a fav for me ♥
January 27th, 2012  
Great capture.
January 27th, 2012  
This is just an awesome photo. Well done
January 28th, 2012  
Gorgeous, lovely detail you captured!
January 30th, 2012  
That's a wonderful shot. I've never been able to get large birds.
February 4th, 2012  
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