The Rough-legged Hawk is an arctic species but even so this one must have been uncomfortably cold.
1/250, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
We found the bird just before dawn a week ago where it had apparently spent the night atop a metal structure at the entrance to Antelope Island State Park. It was an absolutely frigid morning and both the perch and the hawk are covered with frost.
This image was taken only seconds after the sun rose over the nearby Wasatch Mountains and the warming light hit the bird. The hawk is looking directly into the sun as if to greet the source of its warmth after such a long, cold night.
For me the frost on the metal softens some of the disagreeable aspects of the unnatural perch and the frost also seems to tie bird and perch together as one somehow. Their similar color probably contributes to that effect on me.
Ron
Birds and animals are incredibly stoic aren’t they? I wonder whether their ‘conversation’ includes any of the whinges and complaints which make up so much of ours.
Gorgeous image. And I would happily stand out in the frost right now.
A bit of a compromise between your temps in Australia and ours right now might be ideal, EC. Thank you.
I love all aspects of this photo Ron–frosty roof and all 😉 I like imaging being in Utah at this time of year–as you know, we were there last summer–would love to see what it’s like during the winter. Someday!
It’s an interesting time of year in Utah, Christine. The mtns are always beautiful and raptors are plentiful in the valleys but when we’re in the middle of one of our patented inversions it’s simply awful.
Our house is always cold and drafty all winter…I wear a “down” vest and scarf indoors as well as out… ears, hands, nose still get cold…it’s very easy to empathize with the subject of images like this!!! Standing on a standing seam metal roof instead of something wood seems like a lousy choice!
This image makes me empatthize with and worry about the sanity and the welfare of the photgrapher, too….
Patty, I strongly suspect that standing on that freezing metal bothered the hawk much less than it does us to see him do it! 🙂
And believe me, my sanity needed worrying about long before I took this photo…
Brrrrr! Poor baby! Mother Nature is indeed a brutal mistress at times. Fabulous shot with perfect lighting — you truly captured the pathos of the scene.
It dropped below 40 at the SoCal coast, so I caved and actually put the heat on overnight. The dog was appreciative and I didn’t have to share my pillow and part the bed with her. This follows all time record rainfall in our city on Sunday. We’re finally getting a good winter. Of course, back in IL, 40 degrees meant time to wear shorts, so I guess it’s all in one’s perspective.
Marty, I saw a guy wearing shorts going into the grocery store a couple of days ago when it was in the low 20’s F. I think his behavior gave him brain freeze long ago…
In thinking that other parts may have frozen! 😉
This shot makes me feel cold just looking at it. The idea of naked feet on freezing metal is too much. I’m glad that birds’ circulatory systems are different from ours… Beautiful portrait.
Thanks, Susan. I react the same way to bare feet on frozen metal, whether they’re my own or not…
Beautiful shot, Ron, but it gives me goosebumps! Great reminder of conditions we don’t often get to witness firsthand.
It’s a reminder for me of how tough birds have it, Diane. Those cold nights must seem to last forever for them.
Amazing shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
The shot does work with both hawk and roof frosted. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a bird of any sorts frosted over! It does appear to be as fluffed up as it can get so feathers outside can be frosty while at skin level it’s OK. It still does look miserable. Beautiful show, Ron.:)
Thanks, Judy. I keep thinking about how cold its bare feet must be on that cold metal. My bare toes would recoil in horror after a split second of contact with that freezing metal. I understand some of the the circulatory and anatomical adaptations birds have to prevent heat loss from their feet but still…
Agreed! Know they are adapted to bare toes on cold services, BUT!
This is lovely. Another gorgeous shot! I love the mood it reflects and it reminds me about just how hard it can be out there.
Thanks, Sharon. I don’t often post images of raptors on perches like this but largely because of the effects of the frost this one appealed to me more than most.