Caracara in Flight
Got buzzed by this Caracara while walking back to my car along the shoreline at Bolivar Flats on the Texas Gulf Coast last weekend. Picked up my camera with the ground pod/gimbal head still attached and started shooting away. Had to eventually take the camera off so that it was lighter to handhold.
It’s fun to see the migrating raptors back in SE Texas. Lots of photo op’s this time of year.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500MM F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head.
1/4000 sec @ F 5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, + 1 2/3 exposure compensation
Juvenile Caracara in Flight
Hope that everyone had a great Christmas yesterday. Didn’t feel like that time of year in the Houston area with mid 70’s deg F temperatures and very humid. Looking forward to some cold weather in January.
Here are some more Caracara shots from my last trip to Santa Clara ranch. They were taken at the raptor blind as the birds were coming in to perch.
Taken with Canon 1DX with Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on trip with Wimberley II gimbal head
Aperture priority, 1/3200 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 500mm
Aperture priority, 1/3200 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 500mm
Aperture priority, 1/3200 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 500mm 
Caracara Head Tilt
It’s always very cool to see how far Caracaras can bend their head back. There are times that it’s a challenge to move my head side to side, let alone try this one. Very flexible raptor.
Used negative exposure compensation to keep from blowing out the whites in his neck.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on tripod with Wimberley II gimbal head
Aperture priority, 1/2500 sec @ F9, ISO 800, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 500mm
Caracara from Brazoria NWR
It’s been almost 2 months since I’ve taken any wildlife photos so it felt great to break out the camera again last weekend. On my way to see the Dow Skimmers in Freeport, TX, headed to Brazoria NWR to check out the action at sunrise. The NWR had an abundance of water, which leads to fewer photo op’s for shorebirds. Was hoping for some Wood Storks but none were to be seen at sunrise.
My best luck came on the drive into the refuge when I spotted this Caracara along the paved entry road. Had to turn around and slowly approach him with my car. They can spook easily so didn’t want to get too close to him. Took a few photos and then moved closer. He checked out his feathers and flew off to another perch. Tracked him down one more time for the last shot and went further into the NWR.
The sun had not come out yet from behind the clouds so had to crank the ISO up to 3200 to get any decent shutter speeds. Used positive exposure compensation on the first two shots with the bright sky in the background. Used some noise reduction on the second shot but not on the first and last photo. It would be very hard to go back to my old 7D.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld out the car window
1/500 sec @ F5.6, ISO 3200, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
1/160 sec @ F8, ISO 3200, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
1/200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
Crested Caracara
During my trip to Laguna Seca ranch, the raptors were scarce at the raptor blinds. However, we did see this Caracara near a pond where he would come for a drink at the end of the day. Captured him taking a drink, flying to a nearby perch and then using it for a good rub down.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on tripod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1250 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
1/2500 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
1/3200 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
1/3200 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
Tim Timmis Photography 