Had a wonderful display from a hobby yesterday. The best I have ever seen. Time and time again it swopped around the same field and would come too close to be able to focus. The speed it travelled at made photography difficult, but the blue sky and sun were perfect. I would be back there today, but it is as dull as can be.
Canon 1DX. 800mm hand held. 800 iso, 1/2500th at f9
From time to time I come across a Sparrowhawk that has just caught a pigeon and started to feed upon it. It is always a pigeon. I assume because if it was smaller prey it would fly off with it. A pigeon is too heavy and it eats it where it dropped. It happened again two days ago while I was waiting for the heron. The hawk did not have time to feed before I disturbed it. Speed was essential. I grabbed a hide from the boot of the car and had it up with 30 seconds. The benefit of these pop up hides. I placed the hide against the nearby hedge so it would not stand out too much.
Stool and cameras were thrown inside and I quickly banged a tent peg though the pigeon into the ground so the hawk would not be able to drag it away. Inside the hide I set up the tripod and camera and only just in time as the Sparrowhawk came back within minutes. Then I had 30 minutes of photography or ripping and tearing. The bird only returns like this if it has not fed. If the pigeon was half devoured it is unlikely I would have been successful.
I have added a camera bag to the list of items for sale in my online shop. http://www.camerabeanbag.com/Camera_Lens_Bag/p2203723_10890697.aspx
It is designed to carry a single large telephoto lens and I have keep the weight down to a minimum. I wanted it as light as possible so as not to add to the weight of those already heavy lenses.
It will take a 500mm f4, 600mm f4 or 800mm with a camera body attached. Please take a look at the link above.
