Snow Buntings and a Hawk

[NorthernFocus]

Last week it wasn't just about owls. Well OK it was but when they didn't cooperate we shot what was available.

1) A flock of snow buntings. We have these around home in the winter but have never gotten close enough to shoot them.



2) I was surprised at how dark they are on the dorsal side. When flying they really give the impression of being mostly white. But the dorsal feathers are really quite pretty.



3) Definitely lighter underneath.



4) This guy scared the buntings away. It is either a Cooper's or a Sharp Shinned Hawk. Both eat the little birdies.

[Tronhard]

Dan those are beautiful images - kudos!!! (They really need an applause imogo.)

[Rita]

These are totally awesome images.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[DickyOZ]

Excellent set of images. #2 is my favourite. I would PP out the stump(?) lower left in #1

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, everyone.

Richard, I had tried cloning out the object in lower left but then it looked unbalanced. It never occurred to me to simply crop to a different aspect ratio. Thanks for making me re-visit it. Here's the result.

1a)



Also first go around I forgot to include the classic bird on a stick shots.

4) Front view.



5) Dorsal view.

[Wavelength]

Glorious set of images!!!

[Artshot]

Beautiful bird photos, just like the owls. Might be a stupid question but do you use a flash for these photos?

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

No flash, Art. I know some people use flash for birds/wildlife but I never have.

[MillennialDusk]

Amazing photos. #3 really blows my mind. I rarely enough get photos of stationary birds that keep, so really good in flight photos always amaze me.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Always amazes me how you get the birds to pose for the front/back side shots like that.
Great work Dan.

[Bobobird]

Excellent.

[tbob]

I am quite impressed. And very happy to have your sharp images to study as I never realized how colourful they are. Always just a dense flock of white birds that rises from the road as I drive along. And make me feel very guilty for disturbing them.

[lovelife65]

Very nice. #2&3 are definitely my favorites

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, everyone. Glad you enjoyed the little birdies.

Always amazes me how you get the birds to pose for the front/back side shots like that...

Patience, Grasshoppa...