Picture Of The Week 05-24-10

Where: Richmond, VA • Wilkinson Rd. & Brook Rd.

Notes: I was excited when I first discovered where the local Red-tail pair was nesting. They were behind a nearby shopping center in a patch of woods that buffered the pavement from the adjacent neighborhood. Unfortunately for photography purposes, the nest was in a very tall pine tree with an unusually thick upper canopy that surrounded the nest. There was no place I could find a window to peek through the leaves, branches and pine needles to view the activity. I searched around from different directions and distances, finding no vantage point. There was only one spot where I could find no more than a pinhole view of part of the nest at all. So, I surrendered those hopes and headed back towards my truck to leave. As I walked, I noticed something thrashing in the clearing under the powerlines. It was one of the hawks on the ground. It seemed to be trying to grip something in its talons, but perhaps had missed its prey. Giving up, it flew up and headed in my direction. Then it landed at eye level just across the narrow clearing from where I was standing, less that twenty feet away! I stood still and slowly moved the camera's viewfinder over my eye. That's when I realized the the 400mm fixed lens was too much for this situation. I thought, if I could move back about four feet I might be able to fit him in the frame. But did not think the hawk would tolerate that kind of movement from so close, but I had to try. I began to backup, crunching the dry twigs and brambles with each step. I don't know why that bird didn't fly away. I began to shoot and filled a memory card in no time, then I loaded the next card. Finally it flew back up the clearing and lit on a light post. Suddenly it turned, as if it had spotted something below. It hopped from its perch and dove back to the ground. When it lifted its head, it had a lizard it its beak. This was quite an exciting close encounter and I will remember it every time I see the resident Red-tails soaring in the sky around the area.

Equipment: Canon EOS 40D • Canon 400mm Prime f-5.6 L Series Lens • Hand Held

Exposure: Shutter Speed = 1/400 second • Aperture = f 7.1 • Exposure Mode = Aperture Priority • Focus Mode: One Shot • Lens (Focal) Length = 400 mm • ISO = 400 • Aprox. Camera Distance = ~25 Feet • Date Shot: 05-06-10

©2010 Robert W. Schamerhorn. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.