Picture Of The Week 01-14-08

Great Horned Owl Nest

Where: Richmond, VA • Marshland Section of James River Park System

Notes: This photo came as the perfect ending to a wonderful morning of birding, food and good friends. The day began counting birds at Richmond, Virginia's Byrd Park where we re-discovered a Great Horned Owl nest (left). Then it was off to a fellowship brunch, as part of the annual RAS James River Parks System Winter Bird Count. This image was captured as I returned to my vehicle at the end of the event. Before getting into my truck, I had paused for a moment of gratitude for the blessings on the day. When suddenly this adult Red-shouldered Hawk landed immediately across from my parked vehicle on the wire behind me only twenty-five feet away! I slowly lifted the door release and reached across for my camera. It moved about three inches and then stopped! The camera's strap was pinched in the closed passenger door jam. So I stretched across and squeezed the door handle; the passenger door opened and the strap came free. With the hawk somehow still there I switched the camera on adjusted the focal length slightly and slowly lifted it in the direction of this spectacular adult bird. I was able to capture about twenty shots before it left it's perch and glided off.