hawks

Broadwing Hawk

This morning I heard a bit of bird chatter over by the brook. The chickadees were making their alarm calls, and the pair of hairy woodpeckers nesting in the poplar snag by the brook were alarmed as well. Looking about, I finally noticed the cause of all the tumult—a broadwing hawk in a dead elm above the brook. It was quite patient, allowing me to get some good shots from the balcony on the second floor of our house. After a few minutes, a robin flew in and chased the hawk into the woods.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 200mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/200″ exposure.

June 13, 2019 4

Taking off

red-tail-juvenile — A juvenile red-tailed hawk takes off above Rock River

Robin & I paddled up the Rock River in Highgate Springs yesterday morning. This juvenile red-tailed hawk (I think…) was perched on wires running across the river near its mouth on Lake Champlain. It patiently waited as I got close enough to get a few shots, then took off to join several other of its probable siblings cruising and squawking above the trees.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 140mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/800″ exposure

July 22, 2016 3

American Kestrel

kestel — An American Kestrel on the hunt

I finally managed to get a good shot of an American Kestrel! This guy was hunting in the fields along Shaker Mountain Road yesterday at midday as the snow fell. Usaully these small raptors will fly away before I’ve even gotten my camera out, but this one was more patient with me, allowing me to snap off several shots before flying off.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/1000″ exposure.

April 5, 2016 2

Sharp-Shinned Breakfast

sharp-shin-bluejay — A sharp-shinned hawk makes a morning meal of bluejay

My breakfast this morning was disturbed by the sound of bluejays screaming outside the windows by the feeders. Looking out, I saw them scatter as a fast moving shape slammed one of them to the ground. A sharp-shinned hawk had found its breakfast!

The hawk flew the still struggling jay over to underneath the apple trees near the brook to finish its prey off. I was able to get a few shots from the living room window before it flew off into the woods to finish its meal.

Panasonic Lumix GM5, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/250″ exposure.

February 6, 2016 8