With the weather forcast not looking good for the the weekend i decieded to take today off work to go birding.
Off early this morning i went out looking for Raptors. Getting to my destination i spot 2 Wedgies flyng around and after an hour i worked out their current range.
So i go to the northern end of their range thinking this will be the best spot as far as the sun is concerned. I spot 2 large rocks (about chest height) and squeeze between them thinking it might give me some camo from the Eagles.
It didn't take long before they returned and i start taking shots of one of them, i have to say it got pretty close and after taking many shots i just stood still and watched the Eagle flying above and in front of me.
All of a sudden i heard something behind me, i turned around just in time to see an Eagle with it's wings spread and tallons out at eye level about 2 metres from me, once i turned it gave a big wing flap and banked to the right.
Did the bird think i was prey? Perhaps an animal caught in the rocks?
I am just glad i turned around when i did, i would think their Tallons would have bought a whole world of pain.
A couple of pics of the one i was watching.
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Absolutely magnificent Shorty! Gee you make me green with all the beautiful Raptor encounters you have. Your log of the "getting" highlights to me how much more observant & scientific I need to be to locate & approach different species
. Very lucky you turned around, quite possibly you're on the money there thinking you were mistaken for prey. Boy though, would you have had a tale to tell the grand kids one day though, about how you got those scars down your back. 
Yeeouch!
West Coast Tasmania
Firstly let me agree magnificent is the word that sums up your photos, I love the look in the wedgies eyes they always so serious and intense.
And "sccaarry" I nearly had a bowel movement when I was swooped by a plover but a wedge tail that must have got the heart going
Great photos Shorty and what a great story, I've never heard of anything like that before!
Amazing photos Shorty! And what a wonderful (and slightly terrifying) encounter.
What amazing shots these are shorty and what a great story to tell about it....... just fantastic .... i would have done what sparrow nearly did with his plover i think !!!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks for your kind words, everyone. I think i was in too much shock to have a bowel movement
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Speechless !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.
Look out gentlemen, it seems i have found the holy grail
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Wonderful shots Shorty! Have just got back from a few days up North and was lucky to see a couple.
No shots like yours though :-(
Cheers
Great images! The second one definitely looks like last year's juvenile bird. Often, juvies will get very close, was that the one swooping at ya?
Samford Valley Qld.
Thanks, Canonguy. The second shot was the one i was watching when the other one swooped me ( he was the only one that i had to take at 300mm ). Not long after there were 4 present, 2 adults and 2 Juvies. I have gone through my pics and this is the one that swooped me.
Looks like the other juvie.
I have been told reports of up to 10 Eagles in this valley at the same time, there is a lot of food here. Plagues of rabbits (currently being controlled ) and masses of skippys.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
wow Shorty ... a great reason to be thankful for pesky rabbits then
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Wow, wonderful photos Shorty!
Out of curiosity, were you down along the Monaro Highway area? I was going through there on the Anzac Day long weekend and spotted about a dozen Wedgies within 10km of Michelago. It seemed a huge concentration of them.
Thanks, Lachlan. No i was in the Namadgi National Park, 14km west of Michelago. I lived on a property at Michelago when i was a teenager (many years ago ) and i saw Wedgies nearly everyday. It is a good habitat for them around there.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
great pics
Peter
I would be proud to bear the scars of a Wedge tail attack! Great shots of these amazing birds, what equipment were you using?
Thanks, i used a Canon 1Diii and Sigma 150-500.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
So a fairly decent camera then haha. I will be getting a new lens for raptor photography soon and am tossing up between the Sigma 150-500 and the new Tamron 150-600, what are your thoughts?
Great shots and amazing recount Shorty, I am the same as Saturnv78 im choosing between those lenses as well I dont know which one to get.
My Sigma works well on my 7D and 40D too. The 1Diii can be picked up on Ebay for around $800 usually.
As for the lens just a word of warning, there are plenty of people who don't like the Sigma ( some on this site ) it does have limitations but i have adjusted myself to get the best out of it and well maybe i just got a good copy as some would say.
The Tamron from a lot that i have read is on par with the Sigma but you do get an extra 100mm.
In the end i think i will have to leave the desicion to you.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Thanks, Tim. I posted a reply Saturn while you posted.
I will add one more thing, i was not happy at first with my lens but persisted with it. I put down most of the problem with it was me.
It just took a while for me to get used to the weight and length of it.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Shorty I am one of the ones that questioned the lens , I have had it checked in the store but it appears to be OK. We did test from the same spot with that and the 100-400L canon.... I was tempted to put it up to see what it looked like side by side but havent done it yet. A lot of it could be my technique and the recent inability to keep a lens still ... my jury is still out on that one . today I did some shots from tripod and will see what the results are like
I wonder how much difference having the 1D III too compared to my 600D of course
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Sorry, Birdie. I have somehow missed your post
Yes i know you were one of the complainants but did not want to name names so to speak.
Your 600D should work well but sometimes lenses need to be micro adjusted to some cameras, but your camera does not have this ability
On my 7D i had to MA +5 for a sharp image.
You could send your camera and lens in to get them calibrated, but of course you will miss your camera while they do this for you.
I did think about getting the Canon 400 5.6 but have found more and more i need to zoom back my lens and when i do get enough money saved i end up taking time off work to travel and shoot with what i have
Many people love the Sigma but many more seem unhappy.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Brilliant, thanks for sharing
Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well