Yesterday morning this Sharp-shinned Hawk tried to crash our Sage Thrasher party.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4tc, not baited, set up or called in
I had stopped my pickup along the road to Garr Ranch on Antelope Island to photograph some Sage Thrashers flitting around in the sagebrush when I noticed this sharpie perched on a bush almost directly in front of me. It had obviously come in after the many small birds (including our Sage Thrashers) in the line of sagebrush and rabbitbrush along the road. It was pretty far away (this image has been cropped significantly) but I still couldn’t resist photographing it because around here I get very few opportunities with the species – they’re very skittish, especially in a wild setting like this as opposed to urban environments.
I knew that my only chance for quality images would be flight shots just after take-off but I was in a dilemma. This bird was mostly in front of me and because of the angle it was almost impossible for me to train my lens on the hawk through the pickup window. Maintaining my thoroughly awkward position in the vehicle for more than a few moments was impossible but I knew that if I started my pickup to turn it slightly for a better angle the bird would spook while my lens was down. As I tried to decide what to do my dilemma was solved by something that usually frustrates me immensely – another vehicle coming down the road that was very likely to flush my subject.
And that’s exactly what happened but this time I welcomed it.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4tc, not baited, set up or called in
I scrunched up into that awkward position again just before the sharpie spooked. The bird came almost directly at me but I was able to get this single shot that I like pretty well. I do have better shots of raptors in flight but this one appeals to me for two reasons – it’s my first decent flight shot of a sharpie and I love the background. This mix of spring greenery and dead vegetation from last year is typical of the island this time of year and I love the combination of the bokeh from my lens and the colors provided by the island. I do wish my camera settings had been a little different but I really didn’t have much choice because it was a partly cloudy day and the light was changing constantly.
These backgrounds are one of the many reasons I photograph on the island so often.
Ron
Wonderful shots Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Another one for you and Jerry: That sharpie has garnet red eyes…that makes it an adult, right? My understanding is that the juveniles have yellow eyes and that they turn amber then garnet red as they mature…is this right? Is is true of Coopers, too?
Thanks, Ron….Can’t help but think what great guitar players these sharpies might be with those long, thin, strong “finger/toes”…I’m still working on becoming the World’s Foremost Authority on differentiating between Sharpies and Coopers…haven’t made much progress, though. Here’s one for you and Jerry: Do Coopers and Sharpies tend to migrate at the same time??? If so, all is lost….
Great to see a sharpie in front of your lens Ron! They’re so small in stature, but so big in attitude. Always alert, opportunistic and on the hunt. Lately I’ve seen quite a few moving over the Wasatch ridges, but none close or down low. Whether in the wild or on your blog, they’re a smile inducing sight.
How wonderful that the other driver was a silver lining rather than the cloud that his breed so often are for you.
Hi Ron. You made me look.
Look at the World
Ed Stevenson’s response
to a photo by Ron Dudley
May 9, 2014
Look at the world.
Hawk eye, gold ring, black center,
LOOK at the world.
Wings stretched for flight,
for escape or hunt,
look at the world.
Tawny browns, grays, white,
look at the world.
Look at the hazy
purple, green, gold world.
Look
for this now-everlasting second,
look at the world;
LOOK!
Neat poem, Ed. I think the watchers (lookers) of the world have a distinct advantage (on several levels) over those who don’t appreciate or practice the skill.
Serendipity strikes again! Who woulda thunk you’d be thankful for an oncoming vehicle to help get the shot?
We only see Sharpies during migration and I’ve yet to see one anywhere close to think about a photograph.
Superb, Ron! And you’re right about the island background providing a perfect canvas to highlight your artwork.
Many of our sharpies are migrating through here too, Wally. I seldom get an opportunity with the species. Thank you.
Ron, IF you could have had your preferred camera settings what would they have been?
Dave, Jorge H. Oliveira asked the same question in a comment below. I provided the answer there.
Aren’t those immensely long toes amazing? Best bird-grabbing tongs!
Louise, I was thinking the very same thing while I was processing the image. Wish I’d thought of your line “bird-grabbing tongs” at the time and I’ve had used it in my post!
I love this flight shot. It really shows off the beauty of the bird. It’s nice to know that sometimes the irritants can work for the good. The oncoming vehicle definitely worked for the good this time.
Susan, First time I can remember in a good long time where I was glad to see another vehicle approaching me while I was on a bird.
Fortune favors the prepared! Lovely shot of a very difficult subject. Nice job.
Tim, Sometimes I’m prepared and sometimes I’m not. This time things worked out…
Great shots Ron. And, look at those legs and talons, a beautiful bird a very efficient predator!
And, I like your background as well. A very difficult species to photograph, great job!
Thanks very much, Dick. Glad you also like the background.
Beautiful Ron! The young sharpies are moving pretty good the past 2 weeks along the foothills but will be gone soon for the most part. Yours is a great capture
Thank you, Jerry. I’d love to get a few more shots of them before they’re mostly gone.
Hi Ron
Thank you for the coming back…
I agree with you about the bokeh and the island colors. Their are beautiful.
You have mentioned the camera settings and I wonder 1/6000 or even 1/7000,and probably F/7.1, but then ISO had to go to a much higher level!!!
Forgive me for asking but what settings did you have in mind? I am always learning…
Your asking is no problem at all, Jorge.
If I could have counted on this light I wish I’d been at ISO 500 and f/6.3. That would have given me a little more depth of field to get the wing-tips sharper, I’d have had less noise in the background at a lower ISO (I used some noise reduction on the background in this second shot) and I think I’d have still had sufficient shutter speed.
But I didn’t dare change my settings because the light was changing from moment to moment…
Beautiful! I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Sharpie–numerous Cooper’s but sadly not a single Sharpie (yet). I would have been so thrilled that I would have flubbed any pictures I was trying to get. Congratulations on the beautiful images!
Well, I very nearly flubbed this one, Sharon. Without that vehicle coming down the road I’m sure I’d have come away mostly empty-handed.