Over the past few months I have repeatedly heard the screaming of hawks in the distance, but it has been rare for me to actually catch sight of one. I was thrilled therefore when I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The hawk soared almost directly over me, providing me with a wonderful view of its fully extended wings and red tail.
This was one of the few cases when it was not an advantage to have my camera attached to a monopod. I ended up taking this shot with the camera held at a high angle with monopod sticking straight out, almost parallel to the ground.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Oh my… that’s lovely Mike! I also see you’ve exceeded 2,000 followers now, very well done!
Thanks, Liz. The numbers of followers has been increasing slowly. Many are passive followers, but there is a hardcore group of folks like you that read my posts regularly.
WOW!!!!!! AWESOME photo! and CONGRATULATIONS on your followers! 2002!!!!
Birds in flight and monopods can be dangerous, to the photographer and those nearby LOL. I keep mine handy for long shots. Nice catch.
Fortunately there were no other photographers around at the time. For the first couple of years I used my 150-600mm Tamron lens handheld, but switched this past year to using a monopod most of the time. I think it has improved a significant number of my shots. If I plan on in-flight shots, I can dispense with the monopod and keep the shutter speed up, but often those shots are done on the fly with no advance warning.
I use a Sigma 150-600 hand held most of the time, but I usually go for in flights. Lately I have brought out the monopod a little more. Bad back 😀
Nice clear shot Mike. Well done!
Thanks, Chris. I love trying these kinds of shots and never quite know when the moving bird and the light will cooperated to make a decent image.
That’s an amazing capture, Mike – I love it.
I rarely see them this close up! Wonderful!