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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 113: The Side Less Seen (Hosted by Brent Smith) >> Eligible > Hawkeye
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14-FEB-2008 Melbob

Hawkeye

Melbourne


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Canon DSLR Challenge17-Feb-2008 08:41
I placed two more shots of the bird in pending:http://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/image/93055786

this shot makes it look like a 'Brown Goshawk' the other swooping has the 'squared' tail of the sparrowhawk ? I think it is an 'immature' bird and thus not in full plumage yet?

The Australian version is called a 'collared sparrowhawk' and is generally slate greyish on top and has a brown collar... but as a mature bird?

Very difficult to get a shot close enough to tell!

Thanks for commenting though, Victor and K2.

~ Regards Bob
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Feb-2008 07:25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparrowhawk
Could well be one. I believe what was earlier called sparrowhawk in America had its name changed to American Kestrel because, as you point out, it isn't a hawk, but a falcon. The American Kestrel is only found in the Americas btw, and much more colorful than the Eurasian sparrowhawk, for instance.
-k2
Canon DSLR Challenge16-Feb-2008 23:33
"Sparrow hawk" usually refers to the American Kestrel, the smallest American falcon. This is definitely not an American Kestrel. What is the Australian version of a sparrow hawk? -- Victor
Guest 15-Feb-2008 05:02
Cool. Thanks Bob for the shooting info.
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Feb-2008 23:38
Thank you Sharon, Brent and Mary Anne. I took this yesterday at one of my local photo sites, a deep river valley above from which a walking/cycling track provides an excellent vantage point. I have attempted to capture this resident Hawk (haven't verified it's breed yet.. I think it is a 'Sparrow Hawk') for some time but it flies so high or so far away that it appears as just a 'speck'. (.... wish for a 1,200mm F 2.8 ;-) )

For this shot I had to use a 1.4X on the 400mm lens (with the 1.3 'crop factor' =728mm). I hid in some bushes and patiently waited until it flew into the valley where some rabbits were frolicking.

This is quite fuzzy because it was a long way away... probably 1000m or so. I did get some better shots but they would not suit this topic.

I was really hoping that it would swoop onto the rabbits but they ran into the bushes.

Thanks for commenting ~ Regards Bob
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Feb-2008 22:26
Great capture, Bob! Please tell us how you got this.
--Mary Anne
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Feb-2008 18:18
Such a great perspective! Very nice Bob!
~Brent
elips14-Feb-2008 17:31
Wow, Bob, a hawk from above! Very cool! Was this taken from the house you and your brother are building? Really wonderful shot! ~Sharon