Sharpie with Starling kill- graphic

[John Chardine]

My wife called me at work about this. Luckily I am only 5 minutes from home. The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) was precoccupied and allowed a fairly close approach on my back deck in Sackville, New Brunswick.

We have had a lively and collegial debate about this species versus Cooper's Hawk (A. cooperii) on the Avian ID, Behaviour and Nomenclature forum recently and I am fully expecting someone to tell me this the latter!!

I did a little bit of snow and BG cleaning and, crop and sharpen (loving the FF 5D images out of the camera). Maybe I need a bit more room at the top and I wish I had used a smaller f-stop to get the legs in proper focus.

Canon EOS 5D, 500mm f4
capture date: Monday, 9 February, 2009 103 AM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 400
shutter speed: 1/3200
aperture: f6.3
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
flash: OFF

[david cramer]

Must have been a good meal that he let you get that close! Sharp(ie) with great detail and color and the kill is a nice addition as a behavioral shot.

[Russ Chantler]

I love this kind of shot. Not only is it technically excellent, but it conveys the strength and intensity of these birds in a way that an ordinary flight shot or a static pose shot cannot. The low angle really helps the viewer feel connected to the action.

BTW, I read your ID thread & this shot is better for ID. The foot on the Sharpie is about the same size as the foot on the starling. That makes this a small hawk and in fact is probably the smaller male Sharpie.

[Steve Maxson]

Another very cool raptor image, John. Love the head angle that shows off the sharp beak and the intense eye. The raised foot of the starling also adds a lot of interest to the scene. No nits from me - very well done.

[Isaac Green]

You get no argument from me this time -- definitely a sharpie. The starling gives a good reference for scale and look at those tiny legs and little head. You've got me re-thinking the ID in the other forum as well... Great photo. Nice and sharp. I would be tempted to blur or clone out the in-focus feathers of the starling. I find them tugging on my eye. I like the raised foot.

[Lance Peters]

Hi John - nothing to say except wonderful and out your back door.... Ahhhh what a lucky man you are.
:)

[Ramon M. Casares]

I think is stunning! Great pose and the leg from the victim is such a big plus, no nits to me. Congratulations John!

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

Wow. Fantastic shot. Out your back door... oh man

And sharp is not the word

[Grace Scalzo]

It's all been said above. The eye is perfect.

[phillane]

John Great image! Boy you made me a jealous SOB. This is the kinda stuff I dream about grabbing! ; )
Keep em coming!

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Lucky image John. The eye is tack sharp and dramatic. Poor Starling recycled :D

Szimi

[John Chardine]

Many thanks for all the comments! The bird was amazingly "cooperative". I managed over 50 images in a 6 minute period with the 5D, then I went back in the house and changed to the 50D for some tighter crops. All in all I was with the bird for about 10 minutes with the lens leaning on top of the BBQ on the deck! I was partially hidden but with those eyes, (s)he knew I was there! I'll post a head portrait from the 50D images in this forum.