While on a kayak outing a few years ago, I ran across this juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). Normally, it is quite difficult to approach this species, but sitting low in the water in the kayak, I was not seen as a threat. Here are a few of the many images I captured of this beautiful bird:
After a nice “sitting” with this young raptor, it decided it was time to fly off and search for breakfast:
I want to thank Tom & Lindsay, my good birder friends from Florida, who helped me identify this bird, by confirming I correctly identified it as a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk. I often have difficulties identifying hawks, particularly with their many plumages.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 1D Mark 3 body
- Canon EF 100-400mm, f/4.5-5.6 IS lens, with Canon 1.4x TC, shot at 540mm (flight shot @ 280mm)
- Handheld from a kayak, with IS “On”
- ISO 400
- Aperture f/8 and f/16
- Shutter 1/250 sec. to 1/500 sec.