riverahlquist's Favorites

Accidentally discovered this active nest alongside an access road. The adults wouldn't go near the nest if I was too close. I photographed them a couple of times , waited until they accessed the cavity than quickly moved to where I could shoot with a 600 mm lens. This time managed to catch it with a fecal sac!!

Photo 1
Posing For A Portrait
Late yesterday afternoon I was in my backyard when I had a visitor show up. A flock of noisy house sparrows had been chattering in my bushes & attracted a juvenile cooper's hawk. The sparrows exploded into the air & I looked around. Went inside for my camera but figured the hawk would be long gone. Found it perched on my back fence in the open. The sparrows were making noise again & the hawk was so focused on them that it ignored me. I was able to slowly walk to 10 feet from it & it just stayed there. So I took lots of shots. I have learned that juvenile raptors don't know to be scared of humans yet.

Photo 2
What's That Thing You're Pointing At Me?
One of the shots from my close encounter on Tuesday afternoon. I was about 10 feet away on my deck. It was trying to get a look at me and my camera. Hawk was relaxed, one foot is tucked into its chest feathers.