A group of five or so photographers stood on the boardwalk on Friday morning at Huntley Meadows Park watching a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) in a tree above us. We waited and waited for the hawk to take off and when it finally did so, I almost managed to keep the hawk within the frame. I can’t really complain too much, though, because as far as I know, none of the others managed to get a shot off when the hawk took to the air.
We were in a really good position and the lighting was beautiful, but it is hard to remain alert and ready as you wait for a bird to spring into action. I was using a monopod again and I think it may be the reason why I was able to capture the hawk taking off. My camera was already at eye level and pointed in the direction of the hawk during the entire fifteen minutes or so that we watched the hawk. The other photographers had to raise their cameras and were not able to do so quickly enough.
It might be my imagination, but I also think that some of my shots with the monopod are sharper than they might otherwise be. I have balked a bit at carrying a big tripod, but think that the monopod will now be with me most of the time—it collapses to a pretty small size and, because it it carbon fiber, is both sturdy and light.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Very nice pair of photos Mike!
Thanks, Liz. It was nice to be out on a day with blue skies, although it was cold and breezy.
The photo of the hawk taking flight is absolutely amazing! You should enter it in a photography contest. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice photos, Mike. I like the idea of carrying a monopod. I carry a small flexible tripod but I’m always looking for something to set it on.
That’s a great photo of the hawk taking off and I love the rusty colours of the hawk against the bright blue sky.
I’ve carried a monopod for years and wouldn’t be without it. It’s amazing what you can do with one once you get used to it. In its collapsed state it’s even great for macros.
You’ve show what great shots you can get with one!
There have only been a few times so far when I felt constrained by the monopod, like when a bird flew straight toward me and I couldn’t track it when it was directly overhead.
It get’s easier as time passes, I think.