This first photo isn’t a classic buteo flight shot but I believe it’s fairly unique for a non-baited image. I’ve occasionally been able to capture raptors as they’re about to land on a predictable perch but this is the first and only time I’ve been able to get a shot I like pretty well of a raptor as it’s about to (or attempt to) “land” on prey it’s seen from a far-away perch. We can’t see the prey but based on the behavior of the hawk it was definitely there.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk had been hunting mostly voles (once it was a small snake) two years ago on Antelope Island from elevated rocks above me and to my right. Typically the voles it went after were in the flats below me and to my left so occasionally I had good opportunities for photographs as it swooped down after one of the rodents but usually the hawk mostly glided so great wing positions were difficult to get.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
I nearly always lost focus on the bird as it approached a vole and got closer to the ground because of all the dried moth mullein flower stalks that are ubiquitous on the island. There’s a mullein stalk right in front of the face of the bird in the first image. I include this second shot of the same hawk taken 14 minutes later to show you what I mean about shooting through all the mullein as the bird descended on prey. The plants usually grabbed my autofocus so I would get sharp flower stalks and a blurry subject (I’m hoping that the new Canon 7D Mark 2 with its much improved autofocus system will improve my track record in these situations).
But this time (first shot) I was able to lock onto the hawk and stay locked on until it was only a foot or two from the presumed vole and that gave me a shot that I think is pretty unusual – that of a non-baited raptor just prior to landing on (or attempting to land on) natural prey.
To be perfectly honest I can’t remember if the hawk caught anything that time but I’d have to guess that it did not. This juvenile was not yet a skilled hunter and most of its attempts on prey were failures (voles are fast little devils). That fact made me worry about the bird as winter approached. I hope it survived.
Ron
Note: Continuing technical issues may force me (for a while at least) to post in the early evenings rather than my traditional mornings. For those of you used to reading my blog as part of your morning routine, my apologies. And I may take a day or two off from blogging later this week. My daughter Shannon and family from Florida will be visiting and I haven’t seen them for a very long time so I’ll just have to see what time allows.
Wow!
For me, on the day after Thanksgiving, what a fabulous way to continue Thanksgiving!
Ron Dudley, Photographer and Naturalist extraudinaire……….meet Walter Kitundu, inventer, creator, lover-of-the-natural world, and also photographer extraudinaire! [my words are struggling to convey the joy in my heart to have you two connected]. You two fabulous human beings who, when unobserved, shed your human garb… and soar.
Walter, I lost track of you and now I’m glad to be back on track!
Happy, happy, happy continuing Thanksgiving!
SUE
Thank you for the introduction, Sue. Walter and I do seem to be like kindred spirits in many ways and I’m happy to become “acquainted” with him and his impressive work.
Apologies for the bad link. Try this one.
http://10000birds.com/patch-an-urban-red-tailed-hawk-3-of-4.htm
Greetings Ron, I am a great admirer of your work. I thought I’d share an image of a Red-tailed Hawk also just about to grab prey. I’ve always wanted to get a shot like this with prey in the image, but that is a tall order since I, like you, will not bait, set up, or lure birds. Keep up the great work.
http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Red-tailed-Hawk-pouncing.jpg
Very nice to “meet” you, Walter – especially with that wonderful introduction from Sue.
Extremely interesting to see how similar your first image of “Patch” is to my first shot, above. Thank you for the link. Amazing to see your bird hunting into the night – something I’ve never seen with a Red-tail. Those glowing eyes are something!
Stunning! That second shot is, for me, what it’s all about. Just to be able to watch a magnificent raptor going about the business of survival makes a day outside worthwhile. To capture it in a photograph – sublime! Thank you, Ron!
Enjoy your time with your family.
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
(Speaking of that vacation thing, that’s what I’ve been doing from blogging. Hope to get back in the saddle soon.)
Incredible Images Ron!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
What wonderful shots Ron, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
I’m always happy to see RTHAs on the hunt and you manage to get the best shots, regardless of obstacles! I’m especially enamored of the second image, that hawk in flight and its eye on the prize…beautiful! And now, please take some well-deserved family time and enjoy a relaxing holiday, Ron.
I like that second shot too, Chris. The bird flying so low through the habitat just does something for me.
Beautiful photos! I’ll look forward to your posts whenever they happen, and hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take the time to enjoy your daughter’s visit; I’m sure we’ll survive if you don’t post for a couple of days. You deserve a vacation.
“You deserve a vacation”.
That got me to thinking, Susan. I guess I’ve been pretty anal about posting every day and sometimes it’s taken its toll. I should loosen up a little bit…
Ron, have spent a lot of time on your site the past few days. Glad to hear you will have family coming in. I’m fortunate that my daughter, son-in-law and my grandsons are close by. Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
George
Dunbarton, NH
Happy to have you exploring my site, George. May we both enjoy special times with our daughters and their families.
Beautiful shots Ron. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Jean – for both parts of your comment.
Love the intense gaze – and admire those talons. While being grateful that I am not a vole, or a grass snake. Or even a snake in the grass.
Enjoy your family time – we will be here when you get back.
You’re about as far from a snake in the grass as one can get, Elephant’s Child.
I will enjoy my family time. And I may even have time to post every day. Or not, we’ll see.
The first one reminds me of the current popular photo where someone is reading a book and jumps in the air. Someone else snaps their picture so it looks as if they are levitating. Fabulous captures, Ron.
The photo you describe is one I haven’t seen yet, Arwen. I’ll look for it. Thank you.
Thanks, Ron. I like the bird’s focus and intensity in the first image. And, as you know, I really like knowing it is a natural behavior that you have captured. Very nice. I hope you enjoy your daughter’s visit – my daughter will be here for the holidays and I am very much looking forward to spending time with her. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!
Dick, I was talking to Shannon on the phone when your comment came in. I’m very excited to see her and her husband and my grandson again. A daughter at Thanksgiving – we’re both very lucky.
Glad I’m not a vole; those are some claws!!
Forget the postings – enjoy you daughter and family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I will enjoy them, Karen. Thank you. I hope you have a nice holiday too.