Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Red Breasted and Coopers Hawks

My Watery Wednesday post is right below this one. Sorry. I wasn't going to post anything else until late tomorrow but I got these today and was a little excited about it and wanted to share.

I went to Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens not far from me. I was a little disappointed because the flowers that were in bloom on my last visit were gone so I concentrated on trying to find some birds. No luck there either. I could hear them but not see them and when I did find a couple before I could focus they were gone. But before I left, as I walked down the ramp to the lower level I could hear this strange bird call and these big birds were flying back and forth between the leaves and branches that I was eye level with.


One finally landed where I could actually see it so there I was peering through the leaves and branches and was able to zoom in, max zoom, and these came out okay. The quality isn't the best because I was zoomed out but still, not bad for photos this size.



Then it took of. They flew around some more and I waited patiently hoping one would land closer. It did! I took several photos but since they all pretty much look like this one I only posted the one. I think the first one is a Red Shouldered Hawk and I think the other is a Cooper's Hawk, shown in that order.


Oh! And did I mention that they had two hawks' nests there. This is one shot. It was so high up that again, my zoom was maxed out but you can at least see the top of the hawk's head in this one. The the other nest shot didn't come out. I couldn't get a clear shot through the branches.

18 comments:

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

What luck to get shots of them TB!!

Maria Berg said...

I had also been very exited if I had catch those on photo.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

I will once again have a lottery for one of my photo.
This time, I want you to look at the pictures with the
aspect that you might want to buy a it and tell me why you choses those 5.

http://mariaberg-foto.blogspot.com/2009/04/tavling-nr-2-vinn-en-forstoring.html
You will find the text in English futher down that page.

It would make me very happy if you want to participate,
/Maria Berg, Sweden

Inday said...

The first is Yawning. Must be tired looking for his family, if he is a He. All the rest are so cute. The next down below looks a bit glummy.

These pictures came out alright after I enlarged. You did not compromise your Quality at all!

Unknown said...

How fortunate for you. These are great photos.

Esther Garvi said...

What a beautiful creature!

George said...

I think you got some great pictures and I thank you for sharing them with us. I have had absolutely no luck in photographing hawks.

storyteller's other blog said...

Let's hear it for the best laid plans that often go awry ... I, for one, am delighted you captured and shared this nifty series with us today ... trusting us to be resourceful enough to find your Watery Wednesday post beneath it. Just WONDERFUL photos & story ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Mike said...

Great looking bird and great shots, great ;)

Anonymous said...

I would say that you did good. I like your hawk photos.

I am just beginning to redo my Coopers Hawk blog and started putting pictures in it again. It will be a while before I get much done. But you can go there and see what I got.

http://coopershawks.blogspot.com/

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

Oh.. so sharp, look at its eye.
Your tern posting below are also amazing!

Vicki ~ FL said...

What great shots ... and thanks for stopping by my blog :-)

Unknown said...

I'd be over the moon to catch one of those...

Very cool !!!

Maria Berg said...

My husband take of his rings because he gets eczema if it is not dry enugh. But like you said saop and water can not damage the rings.

/MB

John Theberge said...

How lucky for you that you were able to get these great hawk shots. I had one hanging around all winter but I never got a decent photo.

Paz said...

I love hawk photos. Great shots!

Paz

Debo Hobo said...

That cool! Patients paid off:)

EG CameraGirl said...

Hawks are amazing birds, aren't they? Too bad about the flowers, but hooray for the birds!

Ebie said...

Your visit was not a disappointment at all. These are lovely bird shots.