Raptor Gallery - image heavy

[rpcrowe]

I attended the last Hawkwatch for 2018 which is held in the North of San Diego County, near the town of Ramona. The Wildlife Research Institute conservatory owns several thousand acres of grassland that is a magnet to raptors of all types. The raptors in the following images are birds that have been injured or for some other reason cannot be returned to the wild and act as ambassadors for the their fellow raptors living in the wild.

All images shot with Canon 7D Mark II and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens hand-held at ISO 320

The Owls... The great horned owl (#3) is also known as the "hoot owl" while the barn owl (#'s 1 & 2) is also called the "screech owl"
1.

2.

3.

The Hawks... The hawk's eyes are shaded by heavy brows enabling them to hunt from high altitudes. The red tailed hawk actually comes in many color variations and doesn't develop the distinctive red tail until maturity.
4.

5.

6.

The Falcons... Peregrine (#9) Falcons are the fastest living animals - clocked at above 180 miles per hour in a dive. The gyrfalcon (#'s 7 & 8) is native to the Arctic areas
7.

8.

9.


BTW: I absolutely LOVE the combination of the Canon 7D Mark 2 and the 100-400 Mark 2...

[Shadowman]

Nice series, are any of them allowed to fly?

[rpcrowe]

Yes they do fly. In fact there was a demonstration in which the Peregrine Falcon intercepted a quail's wing that was suspended on a cord from a drone. Quite a feat but too far of for a decent photo even with 400mm on a crop camera.

Among the many differences between Hawks and Falcons is that the Falcon intercepts birds in the air as its main prey while the Hawks get ground animals like mice and other rodents for their dinners...

I got an opinion from a biologist that the Horned Owl is no danger to our smallish 7 or 8 pound dogs. I was worried about that since often when I take them out for their before bed potty break, I hear an owl hooting from a local tree.

[Shadowman]

Yes they do fly. In fact there was a demonstration in which the Peregrine Falcon intercepted a quail's wing that was suspended on a cord from a drone. Quite a feat but too far of for a decent photo even with 400mm on a crop camera.

Among the many differences between Hawks and Falcons is that the Falcon intercepts birds in the air as its main prey while the Hawks get ground animals like mice and other rodents for their dinners...

Good to know that some of the birds can fly, I was looking forward to a flight demonstration years ago but they cancelled that portion of the show due to fog. I can't remember all the information but it is probably the hawk that hunts from high perches, we've had a few who took up residence atop city buildings but they seem to disappear after a year or two.

[Rita]

Nice series Richard. I always find birds of prey fascinating and wonderful to watch.

[Wavelength]

Superb close ups; really enjoyed watching them so close

[rpcrowe]

Nandakumar,

Thank you!

The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens is great because in addition to a very long focal length, it can focus quite closely!

Rita,

Thank you, I learned a lot about raptors at the Hawkwatch!

https://www.wildlife-research.org/hawkwatch

The staff pointed out a tree, off in the distance, in which a bald eagle is siting on her eggs. I saw this wonderful sight through a telescope but, will not go near it because I don't want to disturb Mama Eagle...

[Panama Hat & Camera]

Very interesting thread!
I took this picture in Connecticut. Please, which bird is this?

[rpcrowe]

I don't know the species. Bu, I'm pretty sure this is a hawk.

https://www.birdzilla.com/bird-ident...lies/hawk.html

[mugge]

Just my two cents worth - just great.
Cheers Ole

[billtils]

Wow. Almost makes me want to move to a Can*** 7D2 and SoCal. Almost ...

[rpcrowe]

Bill,

Thanks, IMO, the 7D2 is a great camera with a great AF system.





SOCAL is a location with lots of photo opportunities, I am leaving shortly to shoot a very large model train museum. My club is allowed in an hour earlier than the general public so we can bring monopods and tripods which, for safety considerations, are forbidden during normal operating hours.

However, if we could borrow some rain from Scotland, we'd be a lot happier

[billtils]

Bill,

Thanks, IMO, the 7D2 is a great camera with a great AF system.
...
SOCAL is a location with lots of photo opportunities, I am leaving shortly to shoot a very large model train museum. My club is allowed in an hour earlier than the general public so
...
However, if we could borrow some rain from Scotland, we'd be a lot happier

Richard


I'm too heavily invested in Nikon to change and in the highly unlikely event that I moved (or even more unlikely even that I added to) my FF D750, it would be a Nikon D500.

Yes, when I worked in the US we spent many happy days in CA, some in San Diego and surrounding areas but if pushed I'd have to opt for Northern CA, especially Half Moon Bay.

You are more than welcome to the rain, but right now it would be several inches of snow - glad to be on vacation in sunny Western Australia!