I spent more time with this Rough-legged Hawk than I have with any other raptor in flight.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It was kiting in the wind along the Antelope Island causeway back in December of 2011 and it allowed me hundreds of photos over 29 minutes as it hunted for voles in the vegetation below. At one point it caught a “pinkie” vole (a still hairless baby) and I still wonder how that happened since at that age the young voles should still be hidden in their dens.
Many of my shots of this bird were quite similar (the bird looking down with its wings held horizontally) but several times it raised its head in flight to look over the causeway road behind me as it’s doing here and that gave me some interesting pose variation. I’ve posted another shot like this in the past but this image (and the other two included here) are new to my blog.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
There was a stiff breeze that morning and here I caught the hawk tilting its fanned tail as it began to maneuver in the direction it’s looking. I tend to think homogenous sky in the background is pretty blasé but here I got a mix of wispy clouds and blue sky which for me is an improvement.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
One time I got lucky when the hawk dipped down low enough to put the Great Salt Lake in the background. At that point the bird was actually flapping its wings a little and I like the more appealing wing position the moderate wing-flapping provided.
I’m ecstatic! As I type this at 4:40 AM there’s almost 6″ of fresh snow on my deck and it’s still coming down fairly hard. It’s supposed to continue to snow through early tomorrow morning and boy do we ever need it! This is only our second significant snowstorm this winter so hopefully it’s really dumping in the mountains which are our primary source of water throughout the rest of the year.
It’s about damn time. We need it and the birds need it.
Ron
The hawk seemed to have its eye on you! Luckily the shadows were not too deep as it looks as if the sun was out from behind the clouds. When there is unfiltered sunlight my flight shots are too often spoiled by very dark shadows. Wonderful set of images, Ron!
Stunningly beautiful flight poses of this gorgeous raptor!
What’s snow? (Australian visitor)It’s 31degress here.
Gorgeous photos
Ron, I like all three photos but my favorite is the 3rd, where the Hawk dipped its wings so one can see all of the beautiful color in the wings. A beautiful bird.
As for snow, Little Cottonwood has received 18″ in the past 24 hours, with 3-7″ more in the forecast for today. Cars are still lined up on the road about l 1/2 miles from the base of the canyon to go up to ski. What a wonderful day with this moisture for the Spring.
Thank you, Ron
LET IT SNOW!!!
I was hoping they were getting even more snow than that up the canyons, Alice. Oh well, it’s still coming down so there’s hope. I’ll bet it’s beautiful up there!
I’m sure it is beautiful up there if you can get there. My husband went to Park City and came home because of longest lines he’s ever seen. His skis never his the snow!!!
The snow is coming down pretty heavy and it is expected to snow all day. Keep on hoping for more snow, Ron.
“allowed me hundreds of photos” …. what a marvelous experience. I just looked at the range map for Rough-legged Hawks and now understand why I don’t have a single photo of this bird.
You should get plenty of chances with them if you stick around in CO for winters now, Dave.
Great shots of the Rough!
Yea for the snow!!
Supposed to warm up here and get into the middle 60’s Wed. and rain, the middle of Feb. If I had control I’d be happy to give you some of our wetness in whatever form you would like, liquid, sold or vapor.
Ha, We’ll take it in all three states of matter, Dick!
We’ll take some in SoCal too, Dick!
Marty, been through droughts, however not like the West and you guys are going through! It doesn’t help having a WH that doesn’t seem to be empathetic.
Just splendid shots. Thank you!
Congratulations on receipt of precipitation. Here those of us paying attention are very frightened. No measurable precipitation since January. It’s going to be a no-garden, high fire danger year.
It’s still coming down pretty hard, Martha. It looks like this storm could make a significant difference.
These images are just gloriously beautiful. I love that the roughie is looking off some other where while kiting. That said, that’s just showing off 😉 And how wonderful it is that they have the ability to show off in the sky! Would that I could, but alas, I’m stuck to the ground with this annoying gravity thing!
Oh forgot to add how delighted I am that you’re getting some much-needed snow! We’re getting the winds and it’s thinking about raining, but hasn’t gotten past the 137-drop range. East of Kingman might get slammed today, but that’s a good thing, too.
It wasn’t “looking off” very often, Laura. Most of the time its eyes were glued to the ground looking for a meal. Thank you.
I love these. Looks like he’s having fun, and responding to you as well as to the potential of voles. That first shot, so alert! Head up, looking right at you! Ah, he seems to be saying, that strange human is back! Interesting species, but no wings, poor things.
I believe he WAS having fun, Sallie. Thanks.
With all my Olympic watching, I see a figure skater in this. 😀
🙂
Beautiful shots of it appearing to just “float” on the wind and looking at you to boot! Fun how they subtly move to maintain position. Still have what I believe is a Roughie around that’s keeping the pheasants on their toes. Interesting to watch them become aware and slowly move as a group to under the spruce trees while feeding at times. Glad you got some snow! We’ve added some more the past few days. We’ll take all we can get in the mountains – not so thrilled about it here as we aren’t getting our usual chinooks to clear it out on a regular basis! Unusual for us to have it keep building up! More subzero in store also. 🙁
That’s right, Judy – they don’t have to move any part of their bodies much when they’re kiting. Gonna get pretty cold here soon too.
Excellent photos Ron. I especially love the last one; the details in the layers of the feathers is outstanding! All that is missed when they are soaring as I watch bottom up. I’ve come to love this bird; they seem more abundant this winter. It seems the lighter colored of the species is more abundant…or perhaps i just am not at the right place/right time.
Yes, the dark morphs are less common, Kathy. Thanks.
Yay! Snow! And Roughies! 🙂 For some odd reason, this morning my eye is drawn to that brightly colored gape.
P.S. NO SHOVELING! 😉
That gape often stands out in this species, Marty. We’ll see about the shoveling…
Fabulous flight shots Ron! Glad you’re getting that much needed moisture.
Charlotte
Me too, Charlotte. Thanks.
Awesome series as usual!
Thank you, Elmer.