Outdoor Adventure USA

Took a run out to the San Jacinto wilderness/Mystic Lake area to try to shoot some BIF photos. I have been trying to get better and would like to get a sequence of a bird of prey as it hunts and attacks. So, I am walking through some bushes and see a hawk in a tree. I take a few pics and the hawk looks at me. He says, " I see you drive a toyota--This is what I think of Toyota." I was shocked, but a picture can better explain. He then flipped me a tail feather and flew away. Amazing, not liking a toyota. I sure am glad I had my hat on. Got a few pictures of other critters. As I was leaving I saw a Red Tail Hawk with a fresh kill--A coot and it was feeding. I tried to get a few pictures, but it was a bit far and the sun was in my face, so the pics are not that good. I tried to get closer and change the angle. The hawk flew away but let me know it wasn't happy. It circled and I got a few pictures. Notice the blood on the beak. Cheers, Steve

Nice pictures, Steve. I can never seem to get good pics of hawks when I seen 'em, and I see them all the time. Maybe use the wife's camera...

Hi John. My keeper rate for birds of prey is terrible. I have shot well over 3,000 rounds and have a keeper rate of maybe 1%. That 1% is for both good and so-so pics. Yesterday, I shot over 500 frames and consider maybe 5 pics as keepers. The one pic above with the blood on the beak is probably my best to date. The other one is only so-so. I have been trying to read up on improving and have another set of camera setting to try. I will take my Grandson and head out there in a few minutes. I think I have the right gear for the job, which shows it is the idiot pulling the trigger who is goofing it up. I do think we have an advantage being hunters/shooters. I use my camera like a shotgun/rifle and it is no problem to track the birds or pick them up in the viewfinder. I will let you know if this next set of settings does the trick.

Happy New Year, Steve

Awesome shots Steve. I love the wildlife shots. We need to all get together with our cameras at the next "Birds of Prey" convention in Ramona.

I'm in

I am in. Do you have any info or links or dates? I will post another place to go take photos of big cats--new thread.

Cheers, Steve