If you’re getting tired of photos of the rufous red-tail please bear with me. These photos were taken yesterday morning and one of them is among my favorites.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I had a pretty good chance to get good shots that included both the rufous female and her mate in the same photos but as fate would have it the male was directly behind the female while they were perched on these rocks so he was mostly hidden.
And then when he took off I cut off his left wing which really disappointed me. They were on the side of a steep hill so I anticipated that he would use his elevation to his advantage and take off downhill but instead he immediately gained elevation after launch which caused me to butcher his wing. Birds can be uncooperative that way.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But thankfully when his rufous mate took off five minutes later I didn’t botch the job because I really like this shot. She gave me an excellent head turn with eye contact, her tipped body angle allows a great look at both wings, we can see her red tail held almost vertically, I like her stiff-legged push-off and the light angle was perfect.
I’ll admit to having a few mixed feelings about the background. With the mix of sagebrush, lichen-covered rocks and blue sky it’s one of my favorite settings but it’s also a little busy. But it’s natural and in most ways I love it. For me it reeks of the west and that’s a good thing.
I got a few other shots of her in flight after she took off but this one is my favorite of the series.
Ron
Yes it does reek of the West which is very important to gave the flavor.
A truly beautiful moment. The eye contact helps make it intimate and personal.
Your photos are lovely. I’m wondering if you photograph flight shots hand-held or from a tripod. I’ve always had better luck shooting bif hand-held, but with the 500mm, finding it a bit tough to handle. Thanks.
Neither, Tina – at least not usually. I’m nearly always shooting from my pickup and using my trusty “noodle” on my window as a lens rest. And that was the case with these photos.
Beautiful Ron – gorgeous. 81st birthday today and missed checking in this morning. Love these two photos.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Happy Birthday, Everett. And thanks.
Boy, those sure are a couple of good looking hawks. The dynamic power and presence in the second shot is outstanding. I am really a fan of the wings down and forward posture in raptors especially. Glad you got some clear light to catch this moment.
I think they are too, Dave – both of them actually. Thanks.
Beautiful capture.
Thanks, April.
The 2nd picture is fantastic. Natural habitat. Can’t beat that!
I’m glad you like it, Jean. Thanks.
Ron, both of these are great shots of such beautiful Red Tails. I can see why the 2nd shot is one of your favorites. Glad you got out to enjoy the wonderful sunshine. As far as I’m concerned you can keep posting shots of Red Tails on a regular basis. Thank you, Ron
Thank you, Alice.
HOW I have missed marvelling at your shots.
Yes, I would have said a bad word (if I knew any) at the wing amputation in the first, but oh, those britches.
And the second? Wowsers.
I’m pretty sure that in a pinch you could come up with a few, EC. Thank you.
You could post shots of these two every day for the next year and I wouldn’t get tired of them! They are such a handsome couple. I may or may not have said a bad word when I saw that clipped wing in the first shot. I love the way she’s looking at you in that shot — I can imagine all sorts of things she might be thinking. 😉
The second shot is a definite keeper! The busy background enhances the 3D effect and I feel like she’s coming right out of the screen. She’s been working hard too — those flight feathers look a little bedraggled and if I recall correctly from some shots in a previous post, she’s missing a secondary on (I think) her left wing and at least part of one tailfeather.
You didn’t need to say a bad word. I used enough of them for both of us. Of all the shots to cut off a wing! Thanks, Marty.
Spectacular shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
The detail and sharpness of these images are fantastic. Both images have a 3D effect. Would love to read your technique for getting your images so sharp.
John, getting sharp images involves more than just technique. A high quality lens is essential as is good long lens technique. And a relatively fast shutter speed also helps a lot in many cases.
In the first image the female isn’t as sharp as I’d like her to be but in this case it’s a depth of field issue.
I love the photos, and the background is beautiful to my novice eye! Would love to see pictures of their youngsters later in the season… In the past, have they carried on her dramatic red color?
I don’t know, Carol. Based on their juvenile plumage when I saw them none of them were rufous but who knows when they got their adult plumage.
Ditto to Judy and Karen– I don’t think I could ever tire of looking at this lovely bird ( and her mate’s no slouch either ) — there’s just something unusually dynamic about
her, even outside the fact that her coloring is so intense–she’s just altogether a gorgeous specimen !
I agree, Kris – she’s pretty special. Based on how many photos I’ve posted of her she must be…
Well, Ron – when I read your intro and then scrolled down to the photo I said “WOW” thinking that was the photo. Then I read the next bit of text & realized this was NOT the photo – LOL!! However, I had to scroll back to the photo because I hadn’t even noticed the male’s clipped wing, your capture was so spectacular!! Your “favorite” capture of this amazingly stunning female RTH leaves me speechless (I know – that’s hard to believe about me) I don’t know about anybody else but I’m certainly not tired of these two RTH!!
Jo Ann, when I clip or cut off body parts it jumps out at me like a sore thumb!
‘He’s Back!’ seems to be what she is communicating to him with that look and he’s off to check you out. Her eyes seem to have never left you even as she takes off in the photo. They are a terrific pair.😍 I never tire of RedTails or any raptor for that matter. Would love to see a rufous some day but for now I will be satisfied with a beautiful ‘red tail’. Lucky you to hopefully see their young perhaps this summer!
I’m looking forward to a successful nesting season for them, Kathy. Last year was a good year for them.
Very nicely captured, Ron.
Thank you, Art.
Yes! 🙂 Love the position of the hawk – she draws you in even if the background is a bit busy. I don’t often think about/notice the flexibility of the tail other than them spreading the feathers. It would take a LONG time for me to tire of this bird…. 😉 Glad the weather cooperated as did the hawks..:)
Yes, their tail flexibility is amazing, Judy. Besides spreading it and moving it up and down they can tilt it in both directions at pretty extreme angles. And when it’s a pretty tail like adult red-tails have it can make for some lovely photos. Thanks.
never in a million years could i get tired of photos of a rufous red-tail, or any bird for that matter!
thanks, as always, for your lovely photos….
I think she’s pretty special too. Thanks, Karen.