Feather, I'm also into photography. (Altho you can't tell it by the photos I am posting on this forum!! LOL) I just got a new zoom lens and I'm learning how to use it now. I hope to get lots of GOOD photos of birds, someday soon! I'm sorry you suffer from carpal tunnel. I have it too, but mildly enough that I can still draw. I'm planning on doing some bird drawings with graphite pencil, colored pencil, and water color. Those are my mediums of choice these days (I gave up oils and acrylics years ago). Did you do your artwork from photos or just from memory? I have to have a model or photo or I can't seem to get things right and I doubt that I can get a bird to sit still long enough to draw it! LOL Re: the hawks Thanks so much everyone for your input. I'm just not sure. I have seen photos of juvie red-tailed hawks that had lots of spots on their backs. To me the eyes don't look as hooded as the eyes of a red-shouldered hawk, but I would have to bow to your opinions because I've never seen one in person, just going by the photos I've seen! I'm on the lookout for more hawks...there's just something so cool about the raptors!!

They are beautiful in flight, aren't they?

I'm a juvvie, I ate too much, and I want my mommy !!! Seriously though, that is a fabulous pic. One of the best. I am a bit confused in that the bulge looks too low for the crop. Could it be the foot pulled up real high ?? Anyway, I live on the west coast, so it is always a treat to see the eastern variants of one of our most common hawks- send us more !!!

I have a pair of red tailed hawks that have been using the same nest for years. they are spectacular birds. I feel gifted being able to enjoy their majesty so often[ me squirrels not so much !]