Red Tailed Hawk

Posted before I was complete. The rest of the tech data is below. I also cloned out part of the branch close to the hawk's bill as it partially obscured the bill.

1/500 s
ISO 100
Focal Length 560 (teleconverter engaged)

Jerry, an unusual pose. Not to be too blunt, but did the hawk defecate right after this? I've seen them do this before, and the latter usually follows the former. Well composed image, with good detail, although the head looks just a bit soft.

Phil,

I know exactly what you are talking about. When the hawk struck this pose, I thought I was about to see an aft directed "stream". It didn't happen this time. I have photos of ospreys, eagles and cormorants where this posture preceded just what you are talking about.

Jerry

Oh...you can tell the Olympics are coming....you HAVE to do those poses for the judges! Very unusual pose and I like the way the wing tips are through the tail. You did a real nice job of reconstructing the bill...I would, however, round off, or make jagged, the tips of the branches you cloned so it doesn't look cut off. Nice capture! Sharon

Have never seen the wing feathers through the tail, nice job catching this.

Ray

Nice exposure, colors, and I love the pose Jerry!
Some good tips given, enough said.
Great catch

Great pose, Jerry. I wish the stray branches weren't in the way, but when they give you poses like this you just have to shoot.

A really cool pose, I'm just not fond of all of those branches. Looking at your techs, I would be at least at iso 200 trying to catch the take off shot which looks imminent.