A mug shot...

[John Angulat]

...of the terrorist lurking around my bird feeders!
He (or she?) is a regular vistor to my backyard. I guess the feeders are the equivalent of a supermarket. I've only been able to get shots of it after a kill. Today I was obliged by a lengthy pose just outside a 3rd floor bedroom window (about 15' away) at eye level. I ran and got the camera.

Nikon D300, 70-200mmVR f/2.8, hand held leaning against the window sill.

 

[Eric Diller]

Awesome capture!! Cooper's Hawk? Nice focus on that intense eye!

 

[John Angulat]

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the compliment! I had Wiki'd the bird when I first shot it over a year ago. I, too thought it was a Coopers Hawk but this is a Sharp Shinned Hawk (yellow eyes vs. a Cooper's red). Ahh..Wiki...where would we be be without you!

 

[Don Cohen]

Raptors are among my favorite birds, and this is a great capture. Even though the setting is a bit 'busy' the colors, markings, sharpness, and intensity of the bird really allow it to stand out and capture your attention.

 

[John Angulat]

Thanks Don,
Alas, I didn't have much of an option for the setting. Oh, well...lemons...lemonade, you make do!

 

[Don Cohen]

Thanks Don,
Alas, I didn't have much of an option for the setting. Oh, well...lemons...lemonade, you make do!

Exactly, and that's just what you did here, and have a great image to show for your efforts. With wildlife photography, we typically have fairly little control over light, setting, behavior, etc., so we have to just do our best, in any given situation, and hopefully come back with something to show for it, as you did with this image.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, John,

...of the terrorist lurking around my bird feeders!

Exquisite!

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

John

awesome- I love raptors as well-
I have always enjoyed the sport falconry(dunno if that is correct spelling)
but I must have been a hunter with one in another time-
your shot is beautiful*
we HAVE SOME SMALL FALCONS WHERE I LIVE- ONE IS A HUGE HAWK WITH GOLDEN AMBER FEATHERS WHO ONCE SWOOPED JUST RIGHT ABOVE MY HEAD WHILE I WAS OUTSIDE IN THE GAZEBO SWING ON THE PHONE-I NEVER SAW HIM COMING IT Happened so fast and it was thrilling! LOL on the caps I never saw that coming either*

Charlotte-

 

[John Angulat]

Thanks very much Doug, I appreciate it.

 

[John Angulat]

Hi Charlotte,
I'm glad you liked the image! To me, it's one of a kind. I doubt he'll ever be back that close, so we'll enjoy the moment, eh?