It’s been a while. It’s been 50 days since I’ve posted to Feathered Photography. I’ve had reasons.
A couple of months ago I was notified by Bluehost that my site had a “security problem” that put it in danger of going down if I didn’t address the issue. My bad back had recently taken a major turn for the worse so I put it off and sure enough, Feathered Photography soon went down. It was about then that my dearest friend began a rapid decline from metastatic melanoma. She died under hospice care at home eight days ago, on June 28. I spent my last precious time with her less than three hours before she passed.
With everything going on I made no attempt to resuscitate Feathered Photography until yesterday, when to my surprise (that kind of thing isn’t my bailiwick) I actually succeeded. So I’m up and running again. Hallelujah!
OK, let’s get to some birds. Or at least one bird. And a wasp.
Two evenings ago I was sitting at my patio when Hannibal, the neighborhood male (I believe) Cooper’s Hawk, made a surprise attack on a couple of Mourning Doves who were foraging below my feeder next to my bird bath. The doves barely (and I do mean barely) escaped with their lives and Hannibal disappeared to the south. I thought he was gone for good.
But a little less than five minutes later he came from wherever he’d been and landed on the back of a patio chair that I had earlier placed next to my feeder and bird bath. There I sat, very close to him but without my camera, which was in my kitchen right behind me. But he’s become so used to me that he allowed me to get up, open the door and retrieve my camera from the kitchen and sit down at my patio again without flying off.
While I was in the process of sitting down, he hopped from the back of the chair to my…
1/5000, f/5, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
bird bath and it soon became apparent that he was after more than just a drink in the nearly 100° heat. Based on his behavior it became obvious that he also intended to have a nice cooling bath.
1/4000, f/5, ISO 1250, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
The drink came first, with his nictitating membrane half closed.
1/5000, f/5, ISO 1250, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
But before he could begin his bath a pesky wasp (upper right-hand corner) became a real pain in the ass, to both Hannibal and this photographer who wanted bathing photos. The wasp flew very close to Hannibal many times but this is the only photo I got where the insect was sharp. Small but sharp.
Eventually, thanks to the wasp I’m sure, Hannibal lost his bathing mood and…
1/5000, f/5, ISO 1250, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
decided to get the hell out of Dodge. I was so close I had no chance of avoiding amputating his wings with them in this position, even with my teleconverter removed.
1/5000, f/5, ISO 1250, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
But I got one takeoff shot I like with all of Hannibal intact.
You may remember, it wasn’t that long ago that Hannibal still had the more yellowish eyes of a juvenile. Now they’re deep orange and approaching the red of a full adult.
He’s a big boy now, or nearly so.
Ron
Notes:
- My bird bath may look pretty neglected but it really isn’t. I fill it to the brim with fresh water every morning while I’m hand watering some garden plants. But between birds bathing and drinking and evaporation in the extreme heat, by the end of the day there isn’t a lot of water left. And I clean it with a stiff brush a couple of times per week. That red microbial staining you see in the first three photos doesn’t come off easily.
- I had more shutter speed and a higher ISO than I needed but I didn’t want to miss the takeoff or other action so after making one feeble attempt at reducing my ISO between photo #1 and #2, I just went with the settings I had.
Any one of your complications/sorrows would have been enough, but you certainly have had more than your share to deal with. I’m really glad to see you back. Your hawk has my sympathy, too. I don’t mind bees, but wasps often seem to have a generalized grudge against the world!
Thanks, Shoreacres. I agree about wasps.
(I’m late to this post, but really wanted to comment)
I’m very happy to see the site back up, and your post on your resident Cooper’s. I was worried by the site being down.
I’m sorry about your loss of a close friend, but happy that you were able to spend some time with her before she passed.
Thank you for coming back online to share this with us.
Thanks very much, Bill. You can be “late” anytime…
I was worried when I saw the site went down, so glad to see this post and see Hannibal again. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thank you, Evelyn.
The talons dripping water! I love that you always share the narrative with the photos. I am truly sorry about the loss of your dear friend.
Thanks for your comment about my narrative, Suzanne. Sometimes I think I overdo that part a bit.
Welcome back! I’ve missed your photo-journalistic missives. Great series, what a handsome CH!
Thank you, Elise.
Great group of photos! Very entertaining. I’m glad your up and running!
Thanks, Joanne. Me too.
So sorry that you have been having so many challenges lately and condolences on the loss of your former wife (how wonderful that you remained good friends).
Good to see you back on line with some fun pictures. Take good care of yourself.
“how wonderful that you remained good friends”
I think that’s pretty neat too, Laurie. We both did and we didn’t even have to try. It just came naturally.
I echo Marty’s sentiment, Ron. Keeping you and Shannon in my thoughts. Your Coop is living his best life at Chez Dudley. Smart bird! Looking forward to enjoying more of your photos of him.
Thanks, Diane. Just to keep the record straight, I was married twice. Diane (same name as you) was my second wife and not Shannon’s mother, though Shannon and Diane became and remained good friends.
Such mixed emotions in reading your blog post today, Ron.
I’m very glad that you were able to get your blog back up and running and let us all know with a winner of a post. I’m assuming that your back is feeling at least a little better as well.
I’m really sorry about Diane. I admire that you two were able to continue such a loving relationship. I was so hoping that she’d have a better outcome than my friend with melanoma who passed Thursday.
May her memory be a blessing. May you find peace and comfort in your memories of Diane and the knowledge that so many people care.
Thanks, Marty. Actually, my back continues to get worse.
I’m sorry about your friend too. Melanoma is a bitch.
You always make your adventures SO fascinating! Thanks.
Was it your friend Mia that passed away? No matter – I am sorry for your loss. You have always been a kind and caring friend – so I know she appreciated your being with her.
Take care of yourself, your back, and everything else that is hurting you!
“Was it your friend Mia that passed away?”
No, Judy. It was Diane, my 2nd ex-wife.
My goodness has it been 50 days since I have seen a post from you. I too have had my back problems pop up again. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I turned 82 in June and getting older is no fun. Thanks for the pictures enjoyed them.
Thanks, Trudy. Yup, 50 days. Time flies.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. But happy you were able to spend some time with her at the end. I love the pictures of Hannibal.
Thank you, Yuriko.
Great to have you back. Sorry about the loss you have suffered. Remember, you will always have her in your heart. Stay strong
Thank you, John.
It *is* good to have you and FP back. I appreciate the effort it took to reestablish your online presence even as you’re dealing with back issues and the pain of losing your dearest friend. I’m so sorry, Ron.
The joy of finding a hawk in a birdbath or fountain can’t be beat — and what a treat that Hannibal was not deterred by your proximity or camera retrieval. Too bad that ornery wasp didn’t understand the significance of the occasion. Still, great photos of H. Cooper, and love the takeoff shot.
Looking forward to more to come! ❤️🪶
“The joy of finding a hawk in a birdbath or fountain can’t be beat”
That’s pretty much how I feel, Chris. I’m looking forward to another session where he actually bathes.
You have been greatly missed. I’m sorry for all the stress you have had and glad that it is abating.
The post is worth the wait and feel like my world is back on track. Keep up the good work and hope everything you have to deal with is on a steady climb to the best place.
Have a great week.
Thanks very much for the good wishes, Betty.
What a relief to see Feathered Photography up and running! I have the page pinned and bookmarked at my work computer so I was worried when I saw the loading error and kept refreshing. Hoped it was just a connection issue at work but same thing with my home computer. I even checked your facebook page for any news but didn’t see any comments so I figured to just be patient.
Okay enough about that. Thank you for sharing your neighborhood’s Cooper’s Hawk. I’m with the Cooper’s Hawk. It may be a nice sunny day but if there’s a wasp buzzing around I don’t want to take any chances and back inside I go (though I’m sure hawks have better reflexes than me to snap them out of the air).
Amy, I didn’t think about making a FB post explaining what’s been going on. I probably should have, even though that would have reached only a few of my blog followers.
I don’t really use facebook but I figured if your blog site wasn’t working someone would comment on it. It was kind of like a last resort lol
Since I there were no comments on Feathered Photography being down, and seeing no other similar forums/social media discussions, all I could do is wait patiently and hope to see a future post.
Oh, Ron, so wonderful to have Feathered Photography back. Hallelujah, for sure! A few weeks ago I tried to look up a post about Galileo, but just got the message the site was not available. It was sad-making, assuming your back issues had made you decide to close up shop for good after all.
I’m so sorry about your friend, and all you have been going through the past few months. What a lovely thing for you and her to have that final time together at the end. Peace to you both.
Thank you for showing Hannibal in his grown-up splendor. Hawk/bird bath is an unusual pairing of words, but I’m so glad your bird bath is available for some relief in your hot, hot, burning-up Utah.
Thank you, Carolyn. Don’t think I’d “close up shop” without notifying readers first, if at all possible.
So happy to see you back with Hannibal and that tiny pesky very sharp wasp . Sorry about your dear friend and your back. To see your post first thing this morning brings me joy even if poor Hannibal did not get his bath.
Thanks, Eloise. His bath is now clean and filled with fresh water so I hope he bathes in it soon.
thank you🙏🏻 ! welcome back! What a beautiful morning you share in your neighborhood. Now time to go out and clean the bird bath🤗
Not to worry, Eloise. I scrubbed it hard this morning. Filled it with fresh water too.
Great to see you back Ron !! I have missed your images and commentary. So sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thank you, Gary.
Love your posts, photos and commentary, so grateful to have been shown your amazing blog so many years ago!
I am so sorry you’ve lost a friend 💔
Thank you
Thanks, Nicole. I’m glad you found FP too.
So glad you’re back – really missed your posts, and this one is especially wonderful on many counts. Everyone should have a friend like you. Even the birds can tell.
Much appreciated, Burrdoo.
Like everyone else who loves your photos and blog, I am so sorry about your friend. She was lucky to be close to someone who brings such joy to so many of us with amazing photos, facts, and stories.
Kent, Diane always appreciated my photos. She was a true nature lover and had several of my photos hanging in her home.
Love these photos especially #4.
Thanks, Pat.
Ron, sorry about your back and your website and especially about losing your dear friend.
Always a pleasure to see Feathered Photography in my email list. This kind of picture reminds me of a cheerleader or one of the Village People. Hard not to anthropomorphize these.
Take care and keep taking pictures, please.
Thanks, Ellen. Speaking of Village People (and death) I saw that Victor Willis died a few days ago.
You were on my mind yesterday, it worries me when you don’t hear from someone for a while. Sorry about your health issues and very sorry for the loss of your friend.
Nothing makes me smile more than seeing a bird take a bath.
Take care Ron
Diana, I have an entire long series of Hannibal taking a bath, taken several weeks ago. I may post some of them down the road.
Good to hear from you again Ron. Very sorry about your friend.
Nice shots for sure of the Cooper’s. Interesting how the eyes change with maturity. The Northern Harriers females are just the opposite having very dark eyes as juveniles and then the yellowish tinted eyes as an adult.
Thanks, Everett. I’ve missed being here.
You’ve been on my mind – glad you’re getting a reprieve from the more challenging side of “life” for the moment. Hopefully the back is one of the things cutting you some slack.
Fun photos of the hawk even if the wasp ruined the bath! Glad he’s comfortable enough with you to enjoy the birdbath! Beautiful bird! 🙂
You have my sympathy on your friend’s death. Hopefully Hospice there is as good as Peace Hospice was here for Joe making the final journey as peaceful and pain free as possible. No fun even so and glad you could “be there”.
We’ve had some good rain and cool temps of late that is about to change the end of the week – UGH! At least we aren’t burning up (yet) like Utah!
Judy, hospice was very good. Wish I could say the same about at least one of the other medical professionals.
First, I want to extend my sympathies to you for the passing of your friend, and for your compassion for sitting and being with her in her last hours. And doing all this in the midst of your own suffering. It really speaks to who you are.
These photos and the story that goes with them speak to me as well. Coops have become more urbanized since my introduction to them some 40 years ago. But not many people will ever experience the kind of close encounters with them like you have. This too speaks to who you are. And it is both remarkable and I am appreciative that you are able to capture moments like this and share them with us.
You get it, Michael. I get the warm fuzzies every time Hannibal treats me almost like a trusted friend, as he nearly always does lately.
Welcome back, Ron. Glad we are still here. Missing our dear friend.
Thanks, Brett.
I’m glad you got to see her while you were here. It was you that inspired me to hold her hand while I was with her the last time. Knowing me I may not have thought of it otherwise.
It made my day to see Feathered Photography in my inbox this morning!! I read it first on my phone but had to get it on my desktop before I could find the wasp! I don’t blame Hannibal for escaping.
Still so so sad about Diane.
Thanks, Sue. I had other photos where the wasp was a little larger but it was soft.
Losing Diane is sad for us both.
“Thank you” & you take care, we always enjoy seeing your photos.
Thank you, CJ.
Glad to see you back – while you were gone I turned 90 and my wife has turned 90 and we both are doing well considering what goes on in 90 year olds. In our 69th year!
Love your shots, glad you are feeling and getting better, age can be a bitch. It is really great when wildlife can accept you/us as normal and not be scared.
Big congrats to you both on the milestone(s), Dick. And thank you.
VBG, as you say, Dick. Mazal Tov to you and your wife all the way around.
You have been on my mind and in my prayers Ron. Am very happy this morning to see a post from you 😀. I hope your friend died peacefully and without pain. Am sure you will always cherish your memories with her.
Thank you, Kathleen. She was a very special friend, for decades.
It’s so great to see photos, and to have Feathered Photography back. I’m sorry to hear about your friend.
Thanks on both counts. Mary.
Great set of shots and what a great opportunity 👍
Thanks, Brian. Hannibal came back again last evening but I haven’t yet had time to process those photos.