![\"red-tailed](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/red-tailed-hawk-1292-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a01\/1600, f\/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The red-tail was perched in a tree that was swaying in the wind and it was quite entertaining to watch it rockin’ and rollin’ as it attempted to remain stable on its unstable perch.\u00a0 It was largely hidden by the leaves most of the time but occasionally the wind would blow enough of them out of the way that I could see most of the bird.\u00a0 This is the most unobstructed perched shot I got.<\/p>\n I had to do some tricky maneuvering to get a good angle and light for a potential take-off by backing my pickup down and then back up a shallow ravine.\u00a0 I was surprised that the bird stuck until I reached a favorable spot but it did.\u00a0 So I took off my teleconverter (tc) and waited for launch…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n which came 18 minutes after the first\u00a0image in this post.\u00a0 This is the kind of shot\u00a0that’s easy to miss after such a long wait.\u00a0 It takes great concentration and patience to remain focused on the bird for such a long time as you await for a take-off that happens\u00a0very fast and often without\u00a0warning.\u00a0 I swear that sometimes they watch me and deliberately wait until I’ve lost concentration for a nanosecond and then purposely choose that split second to launch.<\/p>\n This time I caught a pose that I like though I do wish the leaves weren’t in front of the face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0In a situation like this, nine times out of ten the bird will take off away from me and just give me butt shots but\u00a0this hawk\u00a0peeled off to my left and toward me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0When they do this I can’t help but wonder if the bird is curious about me and is deliberately checking me out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0I kept 20 sharp shots as the hawk got closer and closer and in each one it was watching us in the pickup as it approached –\u00a0 which is great for good eye contact.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Because of its elevated perch, once it gained speed it was largely gliding so…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f\/4,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I didn’t get any dynamic wing positions but I was still happy to get as many sharp flight shots as I did.<\/p>\n Did I have any luck with Golden Eagles?\u00a0 Hmppphhhh, you had to ask, didn’t you?…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n