First photo on Zooomr. The story behind this hawk is that I've been making attempts for over a month to get a clear shot of her. She swoops our back pasture for rodents and gets chased by the smaller birds. My 300mm is always a little too short, or my hands are a wee too shaky. I wanted a VR for this, but told myself I MUST get a clear shot without the VR help before I'm allowed to have one. I find it fitting that I stalk this hawk using our bird poop covered fence posts as my monopod. I used to read Ranger Rick as a child. It comes through in my photography.