Always Check Your Camera Settings

I learn through experience, generally the hard way. I finally got in the habit of making sure there was a memory card in the camera, that the battery had sufficient charge, and other important things, before starting out to take pictures. However, one thing I haven't gotten in the habit of doing is making sure the lens on the "Bigma" 150-500 mm is not locked at 150 mms.

This morning the light was great when I saw this red-tailed hawk being persued by a large flock of crows. I fired away until the swirling mass of feathers drew out of range. Only then did I discover that the lens was locked at 150 mm, giving a wider, more distant, view. This image is a crop of a much wider scene.