click image for full size

Canon EOS 60D ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/800s f/5.6 at 125.0mm iso800

As a special treat, I am giving you this week a full sized photo rather than just the size that fits into this blog column. Click the photo above to see a larger picture. Depending on your browser, you might then see a magnifying glass or (+) sign and have to click again to see the image in its original, full resolution.

This adorable bird is a hawk during a training talk at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. I believe it is a Ferruginous Hawk, the largest hawk in the United States.

The Safari Park has a wonderful bird show that features many kinds of birds in free flight, often right over the audience’s heads. In this talk, however, they focus on telling visitors how they train the birds to perform their tricks. This hawk was one of the stars of the training talk.

I just couldn’t decide whether to show you the full size image, or a cropped version. On the one hand, I wanted to include the keeper in the shot, because I love his expression, which is just full of admiration for this magnificent bird of prey. On the other hand, it would be a shame not to show more detail of the bird and its beautiful feathers. So, click on the image to see the full size and enjoy it all. No extra charge. 🙂