On my way home from the train yesterday afternoon, I was barely paying attention to the chatter of local birds when I looked up into a tree across the street I was approaching, and saw the distinct form of a Cooper’s Hawk enjoying an early dinner. I had taken the 100-400mm lens and the 7D with me to the lakefront early in the morning before work, so I decided to try and maybe get a few pictures of the hawk.
By the time I got my camera out of my backpack, he’d grown aware of my presence and moved on to another perch, sans prey.
Then it was across the street into a yard with a playset, affording a jumble of perches.
Again, I’m just not tall enough to shoot over the fence.
The hawk finally decided to give me an opportunity to take in his majesty, perhaps so I’d quit wasting his time and he could move on.
The chattering of the smaller birds was incessant, by the way, reminding me to pay more attention to them in the future.
Great shots of the Cooper’s Hawk, Lisa. I see that you use my favorite camera combo, the Canon 7D and their 100-400mm lens. I also have a 500mm. I use a Cooper’s photo on my car sign, and also on my business card. Love that close-up you have in the beginning of this post.
Thanks, Bob! Really special compliment, with your expertise and being a Cooper’s aficionado. I just got lucky. I’m not going to press my luck and try to carry this combo to work every day. 🙂
I agree, it is somewhat of a heavy load for your backpack that you mentioned. And thanks for the nice compliment, although I would hardly call myself an expert on anything. 🙂
I’ve seen this Cooper’s Hawk! One of the guys who came to the house to see the varied thrush gave me a picture of this hawk about to start eating a freshly caught starling. Your pictures are just great.
Thanks! Cooper’s have really adapted well to suburbia. They like the lakefront parks too. I usually find piles of mourning dove feathers in my yard and suspected the hawks. …I am tempted to visit your Varied Thrush again; I hear he’s still hanging out. 🙂
Always handy to have a good long lens with you.
Yes indeed. Although when the hawk posed on top of the bushes, it was almost too big! He must have been looking at his reflection.