I’m on a roll. Sixteen minutes after I left the tamest Belted Kingfisher I’ve ever photographed (photos I posted yesterday) I found the tamest Cooper’s Hawk I’ve ever seen or photographed. Around here both species are notoriously difficult to approach, especially in a wild setting.
I use the word “tamest” advisedly of course, both were wild birds in the mountains.
- I used 3 cameras, 3 lenses and 4 different lens/teleconverter combinations to photograph this bird two days ago so I’m too lazy to include the complicated image techs that would be required for this many photos.
- Image quality will vary, depending in part on the focal length and image quality of the lens I was using and the amount I cropped the photo.
- As you view the images you’ll notice that my shooting angle on the hawk varied considerably. That’s because I moved my pickup several times and the hawk moved to different places on the fence rails too so sometimes I was shooting down on “him” and sometimes I wasn’t.
The hawk was a juvenile and I’m convinced that was at least part of the reason “he” was so cooperative. But in the beginning I didn’t know he would stick around so I focused on getting some portraits with my big lens.
Then I switched to my smaller zoom lens to give me more room in the frame in case he took off. He didn’t but he compensated by entertaining me with his antics. Here he was beginning a complex stretching routine that eventually morphed into something else entirely. He began by stretching his left wing, left leg and tail.
As he stood on both feet again his wing stretch went from a downward stretch to a vertical one, first with one wing…
and then with both. But with his head in this position and facing down…
a piece of loose bark on the fence rail caught his attention. He grabbed it, manipulated it with his bill for a few seconds and then…
deliberately dropped it over the edge and watched it fall to the ground.
But he still hadn’t stretched his right wing so that was next on his agenda.
As raptors often do I thought he might take off after stretching but he was content to stay where he was for quite a while. But eventually he apparently grew weary of his view from this vantage point on the old fence rail so he…
began to walk to the other end. Walking raptors tickle my funny bone because they do it so purposefully and deliberately with so much concentration.
It’s as if their expression and walking style are saying “I’m going to accomplish this very difficult task come hell or high water”.
When he reached his goal near the end of the fence rail he settled in with a comfortable one-footed stance as he apparently enjoyed his new vantage point on the world.
In the end I spent 24 minutes with this young bird before he flew off and I’m convinced that would never happen with an adult in a wild setting like this (as opposed to a “citified” bird more accustomed to humans and vehicles).
A short while after I left this juvenile I encountered an adult Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree about 100 yards away. Even at that great distance the adult simply would not tolerate my pickup so it spooked and flew off.
Ron
Awesome series! #6 reminds me of the look my cat gives when she knocks something off the table. “ooh, did I do that?!!
Nice series and comments!
The first thing I thought when I saw the walking shots was Where are Chico and Harpo? 😉 Thanks for the giggles. Glad you’re finding all these sticky birds — good for you AND, more selfishly, us! ;D
Thanks a lot, Marty. Now I’ll forever think of this bird as Groucho!
Love your pics. 3 years we ago we too had a young Cooper’s Hawk that was in our yard daily. He didn’t mind that we were in the yard watching him as long as we didn’t get too close. I was able to take several pictures of “Cooper”.
Thanks, Jean.
Got a big kick out of the “mighty vulture” stalk walk in frames 8&9!!!
Good.
Definitely a red letter morning. For you, and for us.
While I loved them all, it was the purposeful walk which got me. I would as sure as hell get out of the way of anything which was advancing on me with such deliberation…
Thanks, EC. It’s funny how I struggled to keep focus locked on that walking hawk. It seems I’m more skilled at following them in flight which doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Ah, a little Coop yoga, some playtime thrown in the mix, some more yoga and a good balance beam
walk along a rail….a good morning in the life of a Coop…such a great series, Ron. I loved it.
Much thanks as always for adding some lightness and joy to my morning!
I’m glad it contributed to your morning, Karen. Thanks.
Great series. Like you, I usually only see juveniles up close and even they are often wary. One time I did have a very close look at an adult Cooper’s Hawk. It had just taken a Mourning Dove from our deck and was sitting on the deck rail tearing the dove apart. It was so intent on what it was doing that it paid no attention to me on the other side of the window less than five feet away. Unfortunately, there was no photo opportunity because between us was a double-pane window (needing some cleaning) with a screen over it. At least is was a great opportunity to watch. I’m glad you had much greater success.
“Unfortunately, there was no photo opportunity”
Isn’t that frustrating, Dan! I know the feeling from other situations where unfortunate circumstances have prevented me from getting photos.
I’m obviously late with this post, but man, I love these shots. I guess I just have a love affair with the arrogance and vitality of this species. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th from the end are my favorites. This M/F could care less who was watching he/she was in performance mode!! As long as humans don’t represent immediate threat they don’t seem to care if you are watching, taking pictures or whatever, they will go about their business no matter what it is. They just seem to take the attitude that they are either King or Queen, and you are simply their subjects. They seem to say: “Stay out of my way and we will be fine.” Wonderful post and pictures.
Dick, around here about the only time I can get close to this species is when they’re on prey and even then it’s somewhat unusual in my experience. That’s why this particular bird stood out so much for me. Thanks.
When training a young hawk, falconers often get them to “walk the plank,” as your Coop is doing, and also last year a young RT, I think? It can take several days, in a mews. The young bird needs to have begun establishing trust with his/her handler, and be a little hungry. You set a yummy tidbit at one end of the perch, and soon he comes walking, just like that Coop, to the treat and he eats it. Then you put it in your hand, and finally you move your hand off the perch so he has to step or hop a few inches onto your glove. A tiny step for the bird but a giant . . . etc.etc. It never fails to thrill me, after all this time.
Yes, that post you’re remembering was juvenile red-tails walking a rusty pipe, Sallie. Good memory.
That’s an interesting process of training falconry birds.
24 minutes very well spent. I don’t know that I’ve ever spent that long on any one bird but you certainly proved it to be worth it with this fascinating series. Put a cigar in his beak and it looks to me like Groucho Marx in feathers.
“Put a cigar in his beak”
Damn, would I ever like to get THAT shot! Thanks, Lyle.
Believe it or not I actually spent another 70 minutes or so with this hawk yesterday. I think he likes me…
What a day! What a series!
🙂
I love the hunchbacked look of the walking Coop! Wonderful series, Ron!
Thank you, Diane.
All outstanding Photos Ron, but I love the “walking” ones best. You of course know he was just walking, but if you had just showed us those two photos without information we would assume he was stalking a potential kill. Great series.
They’re a hoot when they’re walking, Everett – no matter the species of raptor. Even owls look pretty goofy when they’re doing it.
Love this series! Shared these shots with my husband who laughed at the “walking” shots and said, “yes, there’s a velociraptor right there!” Thanks for sharing all of these.
I’m glad you both enjoyed them, Kathleen. Thanks.
The walking really is comical. Thanks for capturing this. Tickled me too. Our neighborhood Coopers were being chased by a crow two nights ago. Then the tables were turned and they chased her a bit.
Thank you, Arwen.
This series was a real treat ! On the first image, I especially enjoyed the inclusion of the feathery, peeling bark of the old fence–it seemed unusually complimentary to the hawk’s beautiful markings…….
Thanks, Kris. I’ve loved that old fence for several years now but I think this was probably the first time I’ve ever photographed a raptor on it. And then it happened again yesterday. I guess I’m still on a roll…
I love every photograph! The hawk of course, the background, the rail and fence, his carefree antics… you both were having a good day!
Thank you, Carol. We certainly were.
Wonderful series (as was yesterdays photos)! The rustic rail compliments perfectly besides giving him something to pick at. One just has to love that determined expression and walk. The force has been with you lately. Now all you need is a ShortEar or perhaps time with a Roughie…Congrats on some very terrific photo ops! I envy you…so glad you share your time out there. Rain, Rain, Rain here…records are broken every day…our yearly total record has been slashed already and three months to go yet. Hmmm, I hear there is talk of climate change…
Kathy, I’m glad you appreciate that old rustic fence as part of the setting. I actually like it at least as well as most completely natural settings because it’s attractive and their are no leaves, twigs or branches to obstruct our view of the bird. And it’s pretty close to natural anyway…
Neat series, Ron…… 🙂 Don’t always think about them being methodical but they certainly are! It is a giggle to watch him walk the rail with such purpose… 🙂 Wonder if the concentration IS because it’s walking on a rail rather than flying around? Did your cousin get out for the appt. in Kalispell or don’t know? Visited with a man who farms W of Brady and he was snowed in for a couple of days and lots of tree branches down. We’re melting down fast.
Thanks, Judy. Actually I think many raptors walk like this, even on the ground. I remember watching Swainson’s Hawks feeding on grasshoppers at Red Rock Lakes NWR and they would walk just like this from place to place as they snatched the grasshoppers up. Other examples come to mind too.
My cousins don’t leave for Kalispell until later this morning. Their surgery appointment is tomorrow. I sure hope they have those roads cleared!
Judy, I just heard from my cousin Jim on the farm. Here’s what he said – “Thanks, Ron – US 2 is open with scattered wet spots – should be ok – Del Bonita road got cleared yesterday – Dudley Rd was cleared Mon and we were able to go to town – yippee!!”
Dudley Road is the dirt/gravel road from the farm to the pavement (Del Bonita Road).
WONDERFUL news! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Just heard from Jim again. They made it safely. He says it’s “like summer in Kalispell” – maybe he means that as compared to Cut Bank.