Red tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

What a morning. I emptied a full CF card on this raptor. But after 45 minutes of handholding the 500mm EX prime (ouch!) I missed the shot I was waiting for, a fast dive from the perch, undoubtedly to pick off some poor rodent. Dang! Do they ever drop rapidly! At least it was a superb morning in the mid 50's F (13 C) outside...far improved from the upper 20's (-3 C) the other day. LOL!