Never thought I'd get close to this bird when I first saw it perched on some wire in the distance so took some quick faraway shots for the heck of it. Then I started edging slowly toward it and was surprised that it didn't take off. OK I thought, maybe I have a chance to get close.

I was getting closer with each move that I made....slow, smooth steps so as not to panic the bird. Thought I had a decent chance of getting to within frame filling range until my monopod went down into the ground just a tad too heavy on one particular move and knew instinctively the bird would take off....and it actually did, take off.


Cloned out a few distracting items for presentation purposes.