Capturing a Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk at Cherry Creek Reservoir

Capturing a Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk at Cherry Creek Reservoir

We all have to start somewhere. Even after years of holding a camera, stepping into the world of wildlife photography felt like starting entirely from scratch. Armed with a brand-new telephoto lens, a massive wave of excitement, and a heavy dose of nervous energy, I set out to try my hand at bird photography.

I did what most people do when trying something new: I searched online for the best spots. Unsurprisingly, the internet only offered vague, generic locations for birding photography. So, I decided to trust my gut and head to Cherry Creek Reservoir. It was practically in my backyard, a perfect stepping stone for a new venture, even if I wasn’t fully familiar with the trail system just yet.

I arrived early, watching the morning light break as I started exploring. I wandered onto a trail that led into a quiet backfield area near the water’s edge. For a while, the silence was deafening. No movement. No wings.

I remember thinking, Where are they? This is a lot harder than I anticipated. Serious wildlife photography has a way of instantly humbling you, defying whatever expectations you carry into the field.

Then, I rounded a corner.

There it was. A gorgeous juvenile Cooper’s hawk, perched on a tree branch. Its back was turned toward me, but it was looking directly over its shoulder, watching me approach.

Even with 10 to 15 years of photography experience, my heart raced like it was day one on the job. I paused, dialed in my settings, and snapped a couple of safety shots. But I wanted more detail. I wanted to get closer.

I knew I couldn’t just walk straight at a wild raptor; that’s a quick way to get an empty branch. I tapped into my younger years as an outdoor sportsman, remembering how to move around wildlife without triggering their flight response.

Instead of a direct approach, I began a deliberate zigzag pattern, avoiding direct eye contact while slowly closing the distance. Step by step, it worked. The young hawk stayed put, allowing me to get closer, re-frame, and capture the definitive image of that morning.

It was a powerful reminder that no matter how long you’ve been in the game, there is always a fresh perspective to find when pursuing bird photography at Cherry Creek Reservoir.