One day I'll get this guy. Every time I visit Iona Beach along a certain stretch I'll know I'll see this hawk (or is it a falcon?) patrolling. He comes every hour because his or her route must take that long to come around. He or she comes in from the north along the beach and, without circling around or stopping, will just do a big long strafing run down the beach trying to stir up any unwary bird who isn't ditching or escaping like these shoveller ducks.

This is my only shot where I have him in action or even remotely okay. Last evening I saw him on two rounds (which meant almost three hours of sitting) and each time I had been occupied doing something stupid when out of the corner of my eye I see the ducks scattering. And that's all I got. Even this shot is a crop from a larger frame (yay 7D resolution!).

The first time I was playing with my iPhone and just saw the hawk blur past. The second time at least I was shooting and was able to pan quickly to get this shot (and then got a series of shots of the hawk flapping all the way down the beach making passes at various other flocks). But they're no good. A lot of bum shots.

I realize maybe that's the hawk's strategy. Stay away for a long time and catch everyone napping - including me. Shoveller ducks start getting sleepy, concentrate on shovelling and then BAM, here comes the Red Baron.

One day I'll get him.

Now duck shots? Tons of those. *sigh*