Juvenile Red Tail Hawk

[bobfriedman]

Nikon D5 ,Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR
1/1250s f/8.0 at 600.0mm iso5000

[Akira]

An excellent representation of the stout legs and feet for a "juvenile".  Thank you for sharing!

[Erik Lund]

Good catch, very well processed as well.

[Kuri]

Bob, Great shot!

[Hugh_3170]

Thank you Robert - a visual treat!

You have shared many fine bird photos with us for our comment & enjoyment over what is now quite a number of years.  However there are many other elements beside the photography and the processing. Are these animals easy to find, or must you stalk them and construct hides or dress in camoflage?  Are you a biologist or have you had to learn the animals ways and habits from scratch?  I guess I am just as intrigued by what goes behind the image as the image itself.  TIA.

[bobfriedman]

Are these animals easy to find, or must you stalk them and construct hides or dress in camoflage?  Are you a biologist or have you had to learn the animals ways and habits from scratch?  I guess I am just as intrigued by what goes behind the image as the image itself.  TIA.

well, depends on your location.. where i am the good stuff is hard to find and requires networking.. if i was in a bird rich environment (e.g. Florida in the US) it wouldn't be as difficult.. but it takes time to learn. 

i am not a biologist.. but i do have a science and technology background which helps with my photography but not finding birds to photograph.

[Hugh_3170]

Thanks Bob - the scarcity of subject matter makes your images all that much more special.  Thanks for the background information.

[ArthurDent]

well, depends on your location.. where i am the good stuff is hard to find and requires networking.. if i was in a bird rich environment (e.g. Florida in the US) it wouldn't be as difficult.. but it takes time to learn. 

i am not a biologist.. but i do have a science and technology background which helps with my photography but not finding birds to photograph.

Great image! Florida truly is a target rich environment in the bird (and alligator) departments. A few months ago,I was at my shooting club and an adult red tailed hawk landed on my target while we were shooting. The range was shut down for about 20 minutes until it decided to find a better perch. Right now, I am eagerly awaiting the return of the swallowtail kites, although I doubt any photograph I might take could do justice to their acrobatic swoops.