Went to Paynes Prairie - La Chua Trail near Gainesville, Florida. The La Chua Trail leads to Alachua Sink and the center of the prairie marsh and wetlands to see the thousands of Sandhill Cranes that come to the prairie every year. However, there were very few cranes in the area of the trail. I was fortunate to get a couple of fly bys and some other birds and a few alligators. I decided to go to the platform in the middle of the prairie just off Highway 441, to see if I could see more cranes from there. I grabbed my camera and lens and headed out to the platform, as I neared the end I saw this beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on the top railing of the platform. I first stopped to take some photos of him at a distance, as I was sure he would fly off. However, he just stayed looking at something near the platform. I crept closer and closer, taking photos as I got closer. The hawk allowed me to get as close as 15 feet before he flew down to what he was looking at and then flew off to a tree nearby. He presented me with a photo opportunity of a lifetime and I was sure glad to be there at the right time and right place.