Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: JimL on March 17, 2013, 01:16:21 PM

Title: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: JimL on March 17, 2013, 01:16:21 PM
Thanks for Rotarren's help, I finally got some red tailed hawks at DownsView Park. I was not aware of how smart those species are, I saw one of them standing on a tree, and it was there when some people pass by, but when I was trying to get close, it flied away when i was about 500 feet away :-), maybe to him, I am a stranger. But it is a good day for me, I saw at least 4 of them.

Some pictures 400 feet away.

(http://pcdn.500px.net/28484157/5775c68e80e8715c3f17b290d6c32a0ff97948b1/4.jpg)  
(http://pcdn.500px.net/28483547/986355a4843b34bc1a8a97a6ab232d4c1def3ae3/4.jpg)
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: Rotarran on March 17, 2013, 09:14:58 PM
Nice pics.  Yeah they don't let you get too close, same with the Kestrels.  

Here are a few I shot on Saturday

Looking straight at me.  Wouldn't be surprised if he could see what eye-colour I have.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_1081_zps60479989.jpg)

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_1082_zps0edaf674.jpg)

And a Kestrel pic from miles away:
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_1107_zpsd268def7.jpg)
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: cosmo3667 on March 18, 2013, 09:58:00 PM
still a great series of pictures
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: Fire0725 on March 19, 2013, 05:48:38 PM
That hawk sure is giving you a bird's version of the hairy eyeball!! LOL - love his facial expression with the eyeball glaring at you! :D
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: IronMike on March 20, 2013, 10:05:34 AM
I was at Downsview park on Sunday as well and saw at least 3 Red-tailed Hawks, along with a few Mourning Doves, Killdeer and plenty of Canada Geese

The behaviour of the hawks was mixed, some flew away while I was quite far away, while one was quite tolerant to my presence and let me get fairly close.

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v24/p1487767116-4.jpg)

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v69/p1487777460-4.jpg)

The hawk defintely knew I was there

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v79/p1487773264-4.jpg)

But continued to clean and preen himself for about 10min

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v78/p1487776568-4.jpg)

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v53/p1487775540-4.jpg)

Before taking off...

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v24/p1487778598-4.jpg)

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v57/p1487781072-4.jpg)

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v68/p1487780252-4.jpg)

At one point there were three soaring in the air above me at the same time, they seemed to be hunting a few small songbirds (unidentified) that were flying about

I also got some shots of the doves in the woods

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v68/p1487766414-4.jpg)

and the 2 killdeer that were flying between the big pond and "the meadow" area up above

(http://mschertzberg.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v53/p1487779840-4.jpg)

I was there in the morning/early-afternoon when I saw all these guys. There were some people flying remote controlled airplanes on the far side of the pond (over the rough dirt area) so I don't know if that scared off any of the birds in the area

Cheers,

Mike  :)
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: Irene on March 20, 2013, 11:29:13 AM
Beautiful captures. Love the hawk.
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: JimL on March 20, 2013, 11:41:31 AM
Nice shoot, ang congrats, i visit that park again this morning, the hawks went away as soon as they saw me, maybe my camo jacket scared them.:)
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: Rotarran on March 20, 2013, 11:57:40 AM
Yeah those RC planes kinda ticked me off when I was there but I understand they have few places to go to.
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: Flyingbass on March 20, 2013, 10:45:01 PM
I think I heard horned larks again in the park today!
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: cosmo3667 on March 21, 2013, 08:39:16 PM
all the pics are superb but the RTH are fantastic great job
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: JimL on March 21, 2013, 11:02:52 PM
One more from today.
(http://pcdn.500px.net/28892859/49d473018b63441efe387ff034a3e71d3aee2001/4.jpg)
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: IronMike on March 22, 2013, 09:28:58 AM
That a really nice shot JimL. The angle and details are great. Did you have any better luck getting one to sit still?
Title: Re: Red Tailed Hawk DownsView Park
Post by: JimL on March 22, 2013, 09:43:22 AM
This one maybe is the one that you mentioned, is more tolerant to people :-)