Avian portraits

[finnbay]

A few from my ride today. Canon 50D, 100-400L, ISO 800, f/6.3, eagles at +2/3 ec and various SS:

[MN Shutterbug]

Let me be the first to say, STUNNING PHOTOS! The first and last are my faves. Crisp.

[LeeKen]

Crazy!!! Are you standing on top of the grouse? Love the ruffed and the others are great. Nice stuff!

[mmeyer]

Excellent! I'll go with the first and the second. The stare you're getting in the second is chilling.

[Dbl]

One and two for me as well!

[Matt Breuer]

Agreed, 1 and 2 are beautiful. All great photos. I love the ruffie though, gotta love the nervous strut!

[DMN]

Great shots, love the grouse and the first eagle's eye contact is great.

Thanks

Dan

[fishinchicks]

Absolutely beautiful shots!

[Jim Almquist]

All great shots ken but that 2nd is almost intimidating.

[Steve Foss]

Really good ones, Ken. Nice work!

[jonny_redhorse]

All nice Ken!....That grouse image sure is nice though!.....love the ruff on the neck all fluffed up!

[yakfisher]

Nice work Ken, I definitely love the look in the second one as well.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Awesome!!!

[finnbay]

Thanks all. It was kind of a neat day. All the birds seemed to be hypnotized. I did get close enough to the grouse to step on it, and the eagles let me park myself right underneath them while they sat in the branches barely 20 feet over my head. Some days you're the windshield.....

[jonny_redhorse]

I figured that you must have been "real close" to those eagles Ken!.....the ones I got 2 weekends ago were not that close but eagles are kinda funny....sometimes they spook ,other times,for some reason(probanly hunger)...they let you get rather close as you experienced here....that's why each day is so unique with the cameras...one never knows when that special photo opportunity arises....one just has to be ready at a seconds notice....You certainly did well!

[DonBo]

Great shots! That grouse would have gone home in the back of my truck.

[hendenhook]

Cool shots - I would have to go with the grouse also, looks like a male to me maybe he thinks he's a buck and is feeling the rut.

Very sharp - well done.

[pikedreams]

Well the thread said "avian" so here's a few of my domestic flock.