Grenfell
FollowCaptured this Red-tailed Hawk as he was actively hunting Field Mice along a public Boardwalk in Burlington, Ontario
Captured this Red-tailed Hawk as he was actively hunting Field Mice along a public Boardwalk in Burlington, Ontario
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Contest Finalist in Freshmen 2016 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Open Wings Photo Contest
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Spider1987
February 11, 2016
Luv this shot ! I see we are both Canon Shooters, like birds & live in Burlington Ontario. Small World Bill !
debcunningham
February 15, 2016
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
NatureinLight
March 04, 2018
Totally Outstanding Composition! Beautiful flight shot with excellent technicals.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken a couple of years ago along a public boardwalk, through a marsh area, in Hamilton Ontario. People like to, amongst other things, feed the birds (Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Nuthatches etc) with peanuts and sunflower seeds as they walk along. The birds have now got used to people and now expect to get fed. On the plus side, as relates to my image, much of the seed falls down under the boardwalk and feeds a reasonably large population of rodents - mice, chipmunks and squirrels. I think you know where this is going ..... The rodent population attract a few raptors of which this Red-tailed Hawk is one. These hawks, like most others, are usually quite shy when it comes to humans but like the small birds they have become quite used to the continual passage of people. Anyways ... the hawk was very focused on the prey below my feet (under and to the side of the boardwalk) and dropped out of one of the trees and dove almost straight at me in line to get his intended target. My lucky day !!Time
It was mid morning on a weekend in either late fall or very early spring (my memory not as good as it was)Lighting
Lighting was not intense, but certainly quite bright.Equipment
I used for this shot a Canon full frame camera (5D mark 2) with a Canon 500mm f4 lens. Camera/lens combination was mounted on a Monopod giving reasonable stability but allowing flexibility of movement.Inspiration
As an avid hobby photographer, with birds and wildlife very much a primary focus it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. Of course, if you want to shoot wildlife you have to spend the time in the field.Editing
Yes ... a little bit of clean up around the perimeter to remove the edge of some distracting branches, using Lightroom. Also some minor exposure and contrast adjustment.In my camera bag
I don't carry much over and above my camera, lens and Monopod. However always a good idea to have a spare battery and a few odds and ends in the car ... just in case.Feedback
Photographing great wildlife images is 95% luck and 100% being in the right place at the right time. However, my first rule about wildlife photography is ... "go where the birds (or animals) are" and secondly, if you can get them to come to you then so much the better. This can be done by feeding or by simple observation and of course a ton of patience. My wildlife blog: http://grenfell.weebly.com and my website www.tekfx.ca