Plus a pretty strange looking mule deer.
The only common theme shared by these two photos is that they were both taken on the same morning five days ago.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Based on her large size and impressive breadth while perched I believe this Red-tailed Hawk is a female. I could only see her through a tunnel through all the branches so when she took off I was lucky to get a shot that was even this clear of her. The photo has obvious issues including out of focus branches in front of the tip of her left wing.
But I was immediately drawn to the impressive amount of continuous surface area provided by her open wings and flared tail. Despite at least one missing or broken wing feather the combined scooped shape and extensive surface area of her wings and tail must have provided her a tremendous amount of lift as she negotiated the narrow pathway through all the branches.
That shape reminded me of that of a delta-winged aircraft, thus my title. But then I know very little about aircraft…
About an hour earlier on the same morning we had a rather unique look at a mule deer. It was close and laying down on a rise next to the creek at upper right which I thought was an unusual spot to bed down because it was so very steep. I was shooting down at it at a steep angle with my smaller lens so I could get the entire deer in the frame.
This individual still had its long winter coat which was wet (apparently from crossing the creek) and beginning to dry out which gave it an unusual texture and appearance to start with. Throw in its blondish sun-bleached fur and the deer had a unique appearance indeed. Normally I’d delete an image that had so many twigs in front of the face but in this intimate view they actually appeal to me. And I love those tucked feet.
Almost immediately after I took this shot the deer got up, crossed the creek again, and was gone.
Ron
I love the tucked feet on the mule deer. It reminds me of my cat when he tucks his feet like that.
🙂
Marvelous shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Love both of the photos. That is a impressive Hawk. Look at those claws! The eyes on the Deer. So sweet. Lucky timing!
Nature photography is usually dependent on timing, Jean. Thanks.
Both are glorious.
That is one well fed red-tail.
And yes, I can see kangaroo in that deer.
“And yes, I can see kangaroo in that deer”
You’d be the expert on that, EC! 🙂 Thank you.
That is how I identify starlings, they look like a Stealth Bomber in flight.
Catching up on all your blogs this week, the Humming Birds are gorgeous! In July and August I have so many in my yard fighting I feel like I am sitting in the way of a dart board game. I have not seen one kill another but I have seen them spiral to the ground and sit a bit to recover before flying off again.
Now that I think about it starlings do have that “stealth bomber look” while in flight. Thanks, April.
These are both fabulous shots in their own rights. I’m so glad they didn’t fall to your itchy trigger finger. 😉 The RTH’s power is very evident in this shot and that Mule Deer is so special!
I’m glad you like them, Marty. Thanks.
Perhaps the Red-tailed Hawk needed maximum feather spread to compensate for what appears to be a stuffed gullet. Are you sure you didn’t take a quick trip to Australia for the second photo? Looks awfully like a kangaroo with those short front legs.
Kathy mentioned that kangaroo resemblance too, Lyle. I didn’t see it until you guys pointed it out but I agree. And yes, her crop was bulging.
Two beautiful shots…the muley is an unusual color…I get a kick out of how they boing, boing, boing…much like llamas, especially when curious…
I get a kick out of their “springing” too, Patty – it reminds me of springboks. Thanks.
the deer in the twigs is great, gives it a lot of “place”, but it also looks like a young deer.
Yes, I think it was a yearling. Thanks, Jeremy.
For me, it’s the direct look of the deer. Makes the picture for me.
I agree, Arwen. The only issue I had was how to crop the image, horizontally or vertically, but with the head-on view I chose the latter.
Two very interesting photos Ron. She looks like the B2 Stealth Bomber approaching its target. And to prey she definitely looks like a stealth bomber. Love the mule deer too – twigs do not mar that photo – in fact I think they enhance the image. I guess the different look just comes from the wet hide. Thanks for sharing these.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
You’re exactly right about its resemblance to a B-2 bomber, Everett. Wish I’d thought of that.
Most interesting photos this a.m.! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a RedTail photo with that perspective…really like it. Those talons are impressive also. I really love that mule deer! Again, never seen a photo like this one…❤️. I get all sorts of thoughts looking at it…llama, kangaroo…I don’t know why but I really do like this one! It is special!
That deer photo did the same thing to me, Kathy. The more I looked at it the more I was intrigued by it. Thanks.
I LOVE it! Hawks wings and tail flare make a wonderful photo including the “light” on the tip of her left wing…… 🙂 See THAT coming and it would be an OMG! 😉 Mule Deer IS a unique photo – winter coat body position and wet hair – It’s a keeper in my opinion. 🙂 Our Mule Deer have shed out but the White Tail haven’t – they now “stick out” like a sore thumb against the now abundant green. “Good” rain continuing – slow and gentle.. 🙂
“See THAT coming and it would be an OMG!”
Especially if you were potential prey!
We’ve been having cloudy rainy weather for days now and there’s no end in sight. I’m tired of it and itching to get back out in the field.
Imperfect photos sometimes tell a story best. I like that you were willing to make them public.
“I like that you were willing to make them public”
It was close, Nancy. Very close. But in the end I figured that if I found them interesting some of my readers might too.
You take such great pictures and you are critical of some. I’m not in your league but remember a book I read many years ago, “The Camera Never Blinks” by Dan Rather, so for me the camera catches at times what I don’t see. You see, Thank’s again for the these great pictures.
The camera catches what I don’t see VERY OFTEN, Steven. That’s one of the things I adore about bird and wildlife photography.
I almost didn’t even point my lens at this mule deer because of the steep angle and all those twigs in front of its face but after seeing the images I’m glad I did.