Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/09/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Great shots Doug. Thanks for the technical ID information on the hawks also. Looks like the Sony and Canon combo are working well for you. I am waiting for my copy of the new Nikon 200 - 500 f5.6 zoom to arrive on Tuesday. should be a nice compliment to my 400/2.8. Also I need to take a break from unpacking boxes and get out and do some shooting next week. ;) Gene On Sat, Sep 26, 2015 at 4:49 PM, Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net> wrote: > Last week I visited the Marin Headlands (Marin County California) where > migrating raptors are funneled by various landforms to the Golden Gate > where they cross on their southbound journey. Hill 129, also known as Hawk > Hill, is the last high ground before crossing to San Francisco which > provides astute observers an opportunity to see huge numbers and a wide > variety of these raptors. The Golden Gate Raptor observatory (GGRO; > ggro.org) has been tracking the timing and numbers of these birds for a > few decades; (here's my political rant) if Congress fails to pass a budget > in the next week GGRO will shut down and the continuity of the migration > data will be broken. > > Last Thursday's migration saw several species not normally found in the > Bay Area, or even west of the Rocky Mountains. > > First is a Red-shouldered Hawk, common in the central valley's remaining > riparian habitats but uncommon in the Bay Area > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/rshawk03.html > > This bird's black-and-white pattern on the wings and tail, and the > nearly-translucent flight feathers toward the tip of the wing are good > identification features. > > > The Red-tailed Hawk is common in much of California so it's no surprise > many migrate past Hawk Hill. There is a lot of variation in this species' > plumage but the adult's brick-red tail is unmistakeable. The immature > Red-tail with its band of streaks across the belly and dark patagial marks > (the leading edge of the wing next to the body) is easy to identify. These > field marks are also found on the adult. > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/rthawk15.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/rthawk16.html > > > The Ferruginous Hawk's dramatic plumage is a welcome treat during > migration. This bird will also winter in some areas of the Central Valley: > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/fehawk06.html > > > The Broad-winged Hawk is common in the eastern part of the continent but > west or the Rocky Mountains it's a very rare sight except at Hawk Hill. > Note the dark outline of the wings and the banding on the tail, more > distinct in the adult than in the juvenile Broad-wing: > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/bwhawk01.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/buteo/bwhawk02.html > > > A much smaller species is the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Compared with the very > similar Cooper's Hawk, the Sharp-shinned can be identified in flight by its > head barely extending forward of the leading edge of the wings: > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/accipiter/sshawk02.html > > technical stuff: (off topic) Sony a7II, Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L > > Doug Herr > Birdman of Sacramento > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >