Serendipity strikes again.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 640, 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 photographed this preening adult red-tail just short of three years ago on a ridge line in Box Elder County. I don’t post many preening photos in part because it’s difficult to see their eyes while they’re grooming and when I can they’re typically half-closed or covered by the nictitating membrane. With this shot I was just lucky.
The photo appeals to me because at this angle we can appreciate the beautiful reds of the adult tail, the hawk is looking in the direction of the lichen covered rock as it disappears out of frame to the right (which I think improves the composition) and I like the graded light intensity that still reveals detail in the dark and shaded left wing – all as the bird is performing an interesting behavior.
I was also lucky to have even found this photo. It was buried deep within my archives from 31 months ago so I didn’t even know it existed until stumbling upon it while searching for something else.
Serendipity strikes again.
Ron
I am sure the hawk did a full feather ruffle following his diligent preening. It is interesting how the hawk has his neck and head feathers standing up. Wonderful pic, Ron! We are so glad you found it. I Love this photo!!
Fascinating details especially from Laura, I had no idea. Red-tails could perhaps be better named “Hawk of many colors, tail included” but its a bit unwieldy.
Love the photo, such a great moment caught!
Just got back from Bosque del Apache, wonderful experience, Bobcat treeing another Bobcat and much more! Nice folks too.
Agreed, Dave. Laura with her falconry experience often fills in important blanks for all of us.
You didn’t run in to bird and wildlife photographer Ed Mackerrow while you were at Bosque did you? He’s very often there this time of year and he’s a good friend, an ethical photographer and a great guy.
No , I missed Ed, I follow Ed’s blog though, and I showed his website to the wonderful ladies tending the visitor’s center and they were quite impressed with his cover photos, appropriately so.
I felt they should know of Ed as he is a local fellow, in the greater sense.
It was Ed’s post on Bosque last spring or early summer that invigorated me to pursue the Bosque preserve, very glad I did.
If it wasn’t for your blog I might never have encountered Ed’s website.
If it wasn’t for your blog I might have missed a heck of a lot of great moments in life.
To you Ron, my owl family, and never abandoning my love for raptors, I owe much.
Thank you so much.
PS- I still fondly remember my high school biology teacher, Bill McConnell, a man of kind spirit, immense patience and a true love for all good things living.
Thanks for the very warm fuzzies, Dave. I just now watched some news clips related to our current President which was a mistake because it was likely to keep me from sleeping. Hopefully I’ll drift off peacefully now, thinking of your comment instead. 🙂
Thank you, Dave and Ron, for the kind words! Dave, I am sorry I missed you at the Bosque del Apache, I was there Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. It is always a pleasure. I am hoping someday that you can visit it Ron. It is busy around the time of the crane festival, however, outside of mid-November it can be peaceful. I often just park in a place where there is great light and just wait to see what comes by. Something always does 🙂
That is a beautiful photo of the red-tailed hawk Ron. I also love how you can see the red feathers clearly in your photo.
I’d love to make it there one day, Ed. But I can guarantee it won’t be during the busy season. It would be wonderful to see you again.
Really awesome picture. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen.
I was totally unsurprised to see that Laura loves this shot. And equally unsurprised to lean that fingers cannot come even close to matching the precision of the beak.
Yay for learning that colour (and pattern) changes over time too.
A gorgeous bird and a wonderful post.
EC, isn’t it interesting that some of us have been around here long enough that we can quite accurately predict some of the preferences of other regular followers of Feathered Photography. Sometimes when I’m just about to read someone’s comment I find my mind asking the question- Hmmm, I wonder if he/she will make a particular observation and very often I’m right.
Yeah ED, who’da thunk it. LOL!!
Very nice. You can see all the colors of the feathers. Beautiful bird!
Thank you, Jean.
Serendipity rocks! It’s one of those delightful aspects of being human!
As you know, I can sit watching them preen for hours, utterly mesmerized at their ability to straighten the vanes on those lovely feathers seemingly effortlessly. When I try to do that with a molted feather, well let’s just say that fingers are a poor substitute for that wonderfully adapted beak.
I also love the banding on that luscious red tail! That’s typical of western birds. Mariah sometimes tries out a little banding on her tail, then the next year, she’ll ditch that idea for the full brick red. Then a year or two later, she’ll try on some bands again. So for those who think their feather coloring never changes, you’re wrong. It doesn’t change drastically year to year, but it changes. Mariah started out with a wedding-dress white breast. Now, her breast is significantly more red. And I love it in the closing light of day when those reds just POP! Yes, I’m easily amused.
Laura, thanks very much for providing that info about red-tail plumage variations from molt to molt. I was unaware of at least some of it.
You’re welcome! And here’s another insight. As they age, they get a silver dusting (for lack of a better description) on those feathers, especially along the edges of the feathers but all over. Mariah, at 25 years old, really shows it, especially in the sunshine. Jack, male HAHA at 19, shows it, too, and he’s also developed a few white streaks in his feathers. So don’t let anybody tell you they don’t change. That said, I wonder if a camera in someone’s hand like yours would pick that up?
The very picture of luxury. With feathers to spare.
🙂
Beautiful, RICH, colors and no nictitating membrane! 🙂 Lichen covered rocks fit perfectly and there was still a bit of “green” to set off the rocks….. 🙂 Glad you found it!
Me too, Judy. Thanks.
Beautiful red-tail showing off its gorgeous colors. The lichen covered rock formation does add good color and balance to the photo. Very nice. I can only imagine how vast your archives are. I would guess that there are some real treasures buried there.
Yup, my archives are vast, Everett. Too vast IMO. I’m sure there’s a few more “treasures” there but finding them is the problem.
This does show off those feathers nicely! The color variance at the shoulders is especially interesting as is the striping at the end of the tail feathers. Sometimes I feel they get so ‘into preening’ that I think they ‘zone out’ from everything much like we do in a relaxing moment hence the nictitating membrane. They probably still maintain an alert status but enjoy the moment while they can. Nice lost find!
“the tail feathers”
Kathy, Laura makes an interesting observation about that tail banding in her comment above. She knows what she’s talking about when it comes to red-tails.
I did not realize that a change like that would occur…this is especially beautiful! Checking some of my past photos, non had that banding. Lucky you in the west!