I shooshed the sheriff

(singing) ...but I did not shoot the deputy.

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I shooshed the sheriff, but I shot a sharp-shinned hawk.

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Lemme explain. Driving slowly one morning, just a few blocks from the office, I saw this bird sitting in a small tree. It's just a little fella... approximately the size of a pigeon. I pulled over so I could take a minute to get a photograph. There were no parking spaces, so I put my blinkers (hazard lights) on, and while the car was still running, I began to walk back, stalking this bird. I laugh now, because it would be obvious to anyone that I had assumed a predatory posture, and the camera may not have been clearly visible.

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Next thing you know, a police car pulled up right next to me, and the officer said something through the open window. I didn't hear exactly what he said, so I turned my head and said, "Shhhh... bird." And I pointed to the tree. He stayed there, and I continued the prowl. After a few pics, the bird took off, and when I turned back around, the cop was gone.

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I hurried off to work, grinning all the way, because I shooshed a police man. I didn't give it much thought as it happened because it seemed the natural thing to do.

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Back at the office, I Googled this bird, and near as I can tell, it is a sharp-shinned hawk. They are supposedly common around here, but this is the first time I ever noticed one.

owatta lunai m

"Oh, what a loon I am!" Here's the story: I was out running errands on Saturday when my eyes beheld a rare treat. A hawk was playing in the air current, just floating up and down. I switched lenses and started clicking away like a madman. I even used the flash, to see if it would help record the falling snow. Then my wife said, "Isn't that a kite or something?"

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Right. (groan)

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owatta lunai m... owatta lunai m...

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last week in pictures

1. red²--red tailed hawk with red squirrel
2. experimenting with kinetic photography--block glass window
3. looking straight up into the sky
4. more experiments with kinetic photography--street lights
5. This tree tried to kiss me!
6. with D2 at a local playground
7. with S2 at a local playground
8. balloons from health clinic's charity event
9. plenty of eats at aforementioned charity

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I just read an article on the dangers of eating too much fat and drinking too much and it scared the heck out of me. So I told myself, "That's it!"

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After today, no more reading.

hunting the hunter

With multiple layers of protection from the cold, I took the camera to a local forest preserve Saturday. I was hoping to catch a hawk.

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I won't bore you with the details. It was basically a long time waiting, and many missed opportunities. A tiny bird in the thicket chirped as if to say, "take a picture of me, instead." [click on photos to enlarge] I've no idea what it is.

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So, I went home with some ideas of what I would do differently next time, and would you believe my elusive hawk followed me?!! It swooped down across my windshield as I backed into my driveway, then landed in a tree two houses up. I couldn't shoot the angle I wanted, but you get what you can take, right?

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We ran our Saturday errands, and as the sun was beginning to set, we pulled into a strip mall to buy a fun dinner for the kids, and there it was again! This time, our Redtailed Hawk was kind enough to sit and pose for me. Good bird!

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Don't worry, I'll keep trying until I capture a photograph of this bird in flight.