A week or two ago I chanced to see the local RTH cruise into this tree, followed quickly by another. They landed in a suspiciously dark area and the long lens revealed a nest! I’ve been watching it as much as possible, although I can only see it from the far corner of the deck. Hoping it’s being used!!! This is my only view without being well downhill. There is a possible view from about this height along the hillside to the left of the frame. I’ll have a look.
Specific Feedback Requested
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Canon R5, 600mm f/4 + 1.4X, ISO 1600, f/10, 1/320, sturdy tripod and head, remote release, vertical pano of 3 frames. Assembled in LR to give a DNG, shadows lifted a little in LR, soft light and still air, no other adjustments needed. Into PS for NR – not really not needed but why not…
Here’s the nest at 1200mm – full frame, just the raw file with slight tonal tweaks.
Oh wow that’s so cool. I spotted a hummingbird nest the same way one year. Without the returning to it over and over I never would have. Both shots are nice - that tree is gorgeous. I hope you get to see some behavior with any offspring. We set up a spotting scope on our deck to watch the hummingbird. It was great.
Great story and great opportunity to watch and engage with nature.
The next is icing on the cake, and adds to the story, but isn’t the primary subject, of course. I love the tree, the Spanish moss. What comes across to me is the amazing detail you captured with the long lens and also depth of field (shallow) where what background there is peeking thru, is out of focus, which makes the tree details stand out even more.
I’m not a big fan of the vertical digital format, so I might be inclined to shave off a little top and bottom, but that’s minor and personally subjective.
Great find and I hope you get to watch and witness the hawk pair raise some chicks!
Thanks guys! @Lon_Overacker, I meant to post a crop targeted at the “moss” (lace lichen) – the closest we can come to Spanish moss. I have added it above. The BG is luckily fairly distant.
Beautiful setting for nest. You are fortunate to have the so close to home. The image works quite well with the depth of field and background. Now all you need to do is get the hawk in the nest and another set of images to go along with it.
