Three days ago in western Utah I spent some quality time with a cooperative immature Ferruginous Hawk. It had been a while.
1/2500, 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
I found “her” on this weathered and frayed old fence post in warm light shortly after dawn. She didn’t stay on this perch long because another vehicle approached and then passed me from behind and scared her off. In fact I believe she had her eye on the fast approaching vehicle when this photo was taken.
1/3200, 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
But she didn’t go far. She landed on another old juniper fence post in front of me and a little further away from the road.
1/3200, 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
For a moment while she was here she appeared to be trying to throw a pellet (I don’t believe she was yawning) although she wasn’t successful. But this pose certainly illustrates the unusually large gape the species is known for. In a side view their extremely long gape extends all the way back to directly below the eye so their wide open mouth is huge.
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
I caught her in the midst of a vigorous rouse (notice the length of the gape).
After I took this shot I removed my teleconverter so I’d have more room in the frame if she took off.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
I’m not sure what she was doing here. Checking her toenails…?
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
She gave me no warning when she eventually decided to take off but thankfully I was prepared for it. At roughly 3.5 lbs Ferruginous Hawks are our largest and heaviest buteo so a successful launch often requires a deep crouch…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
and a push-off from those powerful legs and feet. This is the single photo I posted two days ago. Some folks call this takeoff posture a “wing fling”.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Immediately after launch.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
For this and the following photo I had to add canvas on the left for composition purposes. I don’t like to do that but… I did it anyway.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Thankfully she began to bank slightly in my direction soon after liftoff which gave me a nice angle on her in flight. More often than not they take off away from me but on this morning there was a cold breeze coming from the south (my left) so she took off in the fortuitous direction I anticipated. For obvious reasons larger raptors often take off into the wind.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
In this photo she stands out well against the background mountains.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This is the last flight shot I’ll include because I was already beginning to lose sharp focus on the bird. I have several more photos of her in flight but they were just a little too soft to ever see the light of day.
Finding this hawk was a real treat. For the last several years I’ve had very little luck with Ferruginous Hawks but the fact that she was an immature bird probably contributed to my success with her. Adults are typically less approachable.
I looked for her in the same area the next morning but she was nowhere to be found.
Ron
Note: I don’t really know the sex of this hawk. When I posted that single photo two days ago I referred to the bird as “he” and this time I’m using “she” for the sake of equality. “They” as a gender-neutral pronoun just doesn’t work for me. Awkward and confusing I know…
Great post, gape, rouse, and all the rest.
Thanks, Lyle.
Oh how beautiful…just stunning, but then, I’m easy on raptors. Still, an excellent series. I just love all the in-the-moment views. With my falconry birds, I don’t get to see all that much because they move faster than I CAN see given our substandard vision and all. Sigh! 😉
As for the ***holes you encounter, I’m just sorry, but they’re seemingly multiplying out there in the world!
Laura, I don’t think any of us really “see all that much” with birds when it comes to the finer details of behavior without the benefit of stop action which our vision and our brains don’t provide. Thank you.
Beautiful series and the gender of the creature is totally unimportant to my enjoyment. Your description of the horn honker fits them perfectly. I just hope at some time karma bites them back big time. Thanks for all your efforts it is a great way to fulfill my day.
There have been several of those horn honkers over the years, Betty. All but one of them at Farmington.
WONDERFUL SERIES!!!
Thanks, Patty.
Excellent series really otstanding!!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Beautiful!
Thanks, April.
Thank you so much for these shots. She is so gorgeous in all her poses and flight. If I wore a hat, it would be off to you!
I’ll take just the thought of you doffing your hat, Pat. Thanks.
I suspect that he/she brightened your day. As this stunning series did mine.
As for the oxygen thieves who honk to try and disturb the bird and destroy your shot, I do hope that karma bites them. Hard.
You suspect correctly, EC. I was pumped about this bird for a good long time Still am…
Beautiful raptor and beautiful pictures! Well worth waiting for .Great feather detail. On the ” jump shot”, you can even see the fine little feathers going all the way down the legs to the claws. Thanks
Thank you, John.
My hypothesis is that the “stare at the toes pose” is stretching the neck. . .
Could be…
Male, female, doesn’t really matter, what a beauty. Great pictures, thanks Ron.
I’m glad you like them, Sarah.
The eyes just glow in the last photo! Lovely.
Thanks, Nancy.
YES! “She’s” a beauty and the series you captured is wonderful! 🙂 That gape is something – beak size certainly doesn’t tell the tale! An injured nighthawk this summer shocked me that way when we got close…. 😉 Looked like a snapping turtle!
Yes, nighthawks also have a huge gape. Given their hunting style it makes sense. Thanks, Judy.
Terrific series. Certainly is a beautiful bird and that background really puts her on display! Did not realized the size of the mouth. I find all the photos have interesting features but there is something about your first that simply captivates me. She has a touch softness about her…I like the way the breast feathers have that slightly soft look; but I especially like the expression on her face…catch light in one eye with the other slightly shaded. She does not have the innocent look that a Rough-Legged seems to have; this look seems just a bit intimidating.
They’re intimidating for more reasons than one, Kathy. They’re very powerful raptors. Thanks.
Sensational series Ron. In the first couple photos on the old fence posts her eye color matches them. When you mentioned a fast approaching vehicle it makes me think that you need a big sign on the back of your vehicle, “PLEASE SLOW DOWN – Wildlife Feathered Photographer at Work.” I know we have Ferruginous Hawks here, but I have never gotten a photo of one. Hopefully that will change soon – they are beautiful raptors. I like your alternating he/she – I don’t like using gender neutral in describing birds either. Thanks for this beautiful post.
“you need a big sign on the back of your vehicle, “PLEASE SLOW DOWN”
Everett, if I did that there are too many ***holes out there who would deliberately speed up when they saw the sign. I’ve had jerks deliberately honk their horns when they saw my lens pointed at a bird.
WOW!! What an excellent series.
Some of your past images stir up in me a desire to carve the bird I’m looking at, especially this series. Too much going on in my life to do that now, but boy the urge is there!! Love the detail on those wings, it would be so much fun to do this hawk.
Sorry I digressed!
Thank you, Dick. You can digress like that at your discretion..;