I had a wonderful morning with raptors in northern Utah yesterday. Red-tailed Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks and Short-eared Owls were abundant and there was even a seemingly displaced Osprey that continues to hang out in an area very unusual for the species.
But a mating pair of Swainson’s Hawks stole the show.
1/1000, f/9, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I was photographing the female of the pair when out of the blue (literally) the male came swooping in to mate with her. I was unprepared for the action but still got some shots that I like a lot – this is one of them. Their somewhat unusual body positions inspired my title.
I keep looking at this image and trying to figure out for sure (I do have my suspicions) where the feathers of one bird begin and those of the other bird end – particularly some of the feathers under the right wing of the male. I believe I’ll solve that little mystery when I’ve had time to review and cull all the images I took yesterday but that’s not going to happen for a day or two. I was exhausted after my very long day yesterday but I want another go at some of these raptors so… you guessed it, I’m heading that way again this morning. Early.
Wake up time was 3:20 AM. I need sleep! And coffee!!
Ron
PS – Sometime in the near future when I’ve had time to review, cull and process these photos I’m sure I’ll post a long sequence of images of these birds mating, including some of the interesting background that led up to the event and what happened after.
You can have a life or you can have an existence. Life costs more (not least in insufficient sleep) but is worth sooooooo much more.
Stunning image. Of course.
And I am looking forward to the back story. And all the stories to come.
Very well said, EC.
I reveled in my experiences up north the last two days, despite the lack of sleep and the mountains of images I now have to cull. Wouldn’t have it any other way…
Those errant feathers look like the female’s primaries to me, but can’t figure out how they got there…these birds are REALLY tangled up…best two-bird imitation of a double pretzel I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure!!!
Now you’ve got me curious about “the event that happened after”……???
Hopefully I’ll satisfy your curiosity sometime soon, Patty.
Very nice shot, and definitely anatomically puzzling. We have video of a pair of American Kestrels mating, but I’ve never seen it close up like this. I hope today’s venture pays off as well for you.
This was as close to I’ve ever been to mating hawks, Susan. I was actually just a little too close, I clipped some wings in a few of the shots.
That is a very cool shot. Probably something I’m not going to see unless I look at your photos. I look forward to the rest of them. Kama Sutra indeed!
I’m glad you appreciated my title, Carol. I really wasn’t sure if I should go with it.
Oh just WOW, yes repetitive and redundant–so be it! Can’t wait to see the rest of them, and yes, I GET that obsession! Ain’t it just grand? Life ain’t life unless there’s passion and joy!
“I GET that obsession! Ain’t it just grand”
Yes, it certainly is, Laura. But there’s also a price to pay!
Yeah, I get that payback time, but it really is worth it to have extraordinary magic and passion in your life! Or at least I’m going to believe that because living without the magic and passion just isn’t worth getting out of bed in the morning. Thank you for getting up so early to share yours with us!
Just spectacular, Ron. You even captured the eye lights of those hawks. Thanks again for sharing the majesty, mystery and the ‘rapture’ of these magnificent birds…
“You even captured the eye lights of those hawks”
Thanks for noticing that, Alison. That’s one of the reasons I chose to post this image – many of my shots of these two birds had no catch lights at all or only one in the eye of one of the birds.
WOW! That’s his tail under his right wing 😀 Great shot and I can’t wait for the teaching post. 😉
“That’s his tail under his right wing”
I’m not sure how it could be anything else but it sure looks strange to my eye, Arwen.
Good Kama Sutra requires excellent yoga. 😀
Beautiful hawks and you captured them very sharply Ron.
Thank you, Ed.
GREAT shot Ron! 🙂 My guess is his tail cranked around, BUT! 🙂 Good luck this morning.
“My guess is his tail cranked around”
Could be, Judy. Hopefully time will tell…
No matter whose tail it is and where it is placed, I’m sure it didn’t stay that way for long and you show a very receptive female.
What a great shot, sharp as a tack (at least to my eyes) and a wonderful behavior scene.
Thanks for sharing, and good luck today!!
Dick, I’m actually not positive that those feathers belong to a tail. I know they look like they do – hopefully I’ll be able to tell for sure when I go through those images. I took 1100 more shots today so my culling task is a daunting one.
Yes, I know how that is, lose all concept of numbers when shooting until you get home and are amazed at how many you took or thought you took.
Culling NOT my favorite past time, but a necessity!
Your pictures are incredible Ron. Always an interesting or unusual topic covered by tack sharp and well lit photos.
Thanks, Zaphir – but remember you usually only see my better images! 🙂
Sensational capture Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.