So Cal 2021

Did a trip through SoCal in Sept 2021 from Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Malibu, SLO, Santa Barbara, to Monterey. In the parking lot to Balboa Pier in Newport Beach these three guys were looking at this pickup truck and I couldn’t figure out why. As I got closer I realized they were watching a Cooper’s Hawk eat a pigeon. I haven’t shot many wildlife images in my life, it’s not really my thing, but with my M6II and the 55-200mm shooting freehand I nailed some shots. The last domain of cameras is telephoto and macro images since phone cameras don’t do either well at this point, but I’m sure that will change by 2030. The iPhone telephoto lens is a 52mm FF equivalent whereas my 55-200 is a 88-320mm FF equivalent. Luckily I had my 55-200 on me. The main thing I was worried about is that I would spook the hawk and he would fly away with his prey. I was careful not to get too close, but my 200mm only filled the frame so much so I had to get closer to get the shots below. Luckily he stayed put and just kept eating his prey. He carefully spit out the feathers and he worked to decapitate his prey.

Some of the images below are quite gruesome so keep that in mind.

After getting some establishing shots and the initial excitement subsided, I wanted to move in closer so the hawk would take up most of the frame and I could isolate him from the background. Moving in too close though and I can spook him and he’d fly away. This is the problem. I guess just shoot and then get closer until you spook him or until you get the shot.

The establishing shot.
Too far away. Typical iPhone shot though I shot it with my M6II camera.
Difficult to tell he is even eating a pigeon he hunted.
Poor background with all the cars and signs.
Much better but the hawk is still too small in the frame.
Similar to the shot above. Clearly shows the talons, but the decapitated head is a little gross
This is a keeper. Shows the hawk eating. Fills the frame.
Coopers Hawk eating a pigeon
Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, California
9.3.2021
This is the best image from the whole sequence.
Eye focus is sharp.
Got closer, isolated the hawk from the background.
Cropped out as much of the truck as possible.

These are amazing birds. They are the same size as the prey they hunt, but are equipped with the really sharp talons and beaks to enable them to hunt and kill. They also must have amazing eye sight to be able hunt mice and rats.