Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: What was that? on April 27, 2010, 06:06:13 PM

Title: Family value pack takeaway for a hawk
Post by: What was that? on April 27, 2010, 06:06:13 PM

Coming away from Hilton Falls aftera short 13k bimble (lots of macro, some good landscapes - not a bird, but here you are http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558433827/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558433827/))
Didn't see much in the way of birds, certainly nothing easily photographed.

UNTIL that is we left. Just down the road we come across this happy chappy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558432491/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558432491/)

Originally on a telegraph wire, I watched him fly off to this sign - after attacking this bush (which he returned to for my benefit I'm sure)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4559061622/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4559061622/)

After fighting with it for a few minutes off he flew - check out his little friends hitching a ride.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4559060792/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4559060792/)

Turns out he invited them for lunch - and they were it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558429743/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4558429743/)

Unfortunately my wife was a little upset watching all of this. She likes house finches - who were loudly crying nearby. Why couldn't they have been house sparrows instead.
Then we retired to eat chicken at Swiss Chalet - yumm.

These pics were taken within 30 feet of the action from my mobile hide (car). I've now figured out to switch off the engine, the vibration reduced the sharpness noticeably - lesson learnt.

Graham

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Post by: Niloc on April 27, 2010, 06:42:10 PM

Excellent series!

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Post by: Lloyd on April 27, 2010, 08:58:48 PM

Well done! Great photos and comments, too. I love nature albeit a little harsh sometimes.

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Post by: What was that? on April 27, 2010, 09:09:45 PM

Thanks peeps.
Confession is that the pics work graet at this size, but I couldn't print them at anything bigger than 5x7", too much blur. (In part from me shaking in excitement - I never want to lose the wonder and amazement I feel when I see this type of thing - wow.)

Graham

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Post by: ravynne40 on April 27, 2010, 10:11:26 PM

Great shots Graham, and very funny re: swiss chalet and eating chicken

Irene :)

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Post by: Luv2Bird on April 28, 2010, 01:04:59 PM

Super series ... upsetting for some of us ... but such is "nature in action" .Feel sorry for the poor Finches.  Truly amazing to witness such an event. Never would have thought that a hawk would do this.

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Post by: What was that? on April 28, 2010, 04:04:17 PM

The bush was so small compared to the hawk. Bush - 4' tall, Hawk seemed massive in comparison.
In my 2 years of birding, this has to be the best sighting. And I've seen better posted on these boards, so hopefully more is to come.
Graham
childlike wonderment continues.

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Post by: egret on April 29, 2010, 01:46:07 PM

Lovely shots

but it upsets me as well

poor wee birds!



Egret

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Post by: Moira on April 30, 2010, 09:55:57 PM

Great series - the Red Tail pictures are excellent.