Including one of the more unusual photos I’ve ever posted to Feathered Photography.
1/2000, 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
This is the male of a mated pair of Red-tailed Hawks I found on some cliffs in northern Utah yesterday morning. When he took off from the top of the cliff his mate was perched on the side of the same cliff some distance away.
At first I had no idea what his intentions were with this flight: Was he going off hunting? Going to join his mate? About to chase away an intruder? Just off on a joy ride in the sky?
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 six frames in the burst later when he abruptly banked vertically and turned directly toward his mate on the side of the cliff I immediately had my suspicions about his intentions. Perhaps he was just going to join her but maybe, just maybe, he was feeling amorous and had mating on his mind.
After all, he’d been watching her on the side of the cliff for quite a while and even though I have a hard time reading solicitation behavior in female Red-tailed Hawks I’m sure he isn’t burdened with that problem.
- Note: I love how the early morning light revealed the beautiful details of color and pattern on his ventral surfaces when he banked nearly vertically but I sure wish I had more light on his face and in his eye.
1/1600, 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
Then he came out of his bank and headed directly toward her on the side of the cliff. Even though she’s out of focus it’s obvious that she’s watching him coming her way. A few moments after this photo was taken they mated.
This photo breaks several of my personal “rules” – it’s a butt shot of the male, one of the primary subjects is soft and the two birds intersect with each other but for some reason it really speaks to me about raptor habitat and behavior. In all the years I’ve been posting to Feathered Photography I don’t remember another photo I’ve published that even remotely resembles this one.
I realize that just because a photo is different doesn’t mean it’s any good but I like it a lot. Your mileage may and probably will vary.
Ron
Notes:
- For this area it seems a little late in the breeding season for these birds to be mating and I didn’t see any evidence of them building a nest. Other nearby red-tails have been incubating for some time now. Perhaps their first nesting effort failed?
- I’ll be posting photos of these hawks mating sometime soon but I have oodles of culling and processing in front of me before that can happen.
Ron, these images are spectacular, as usual.
Your efforts never disappoint, especially those oh so difficult flight photos. I don’t comment often but follow constantly with great interest, especially the detailed specs of the shots. I have to ask, on these shots you list your camera equip as a 7D Mark III. Did I miss something or has there been a change?
I thought you owned 2- 7D Mark II’s and were in
a conundrum about where to go next in the camera dept. ? May be it’s a typo, but I am curious. I have been watching several other photographers thoughts and decisions on upgrades and canon cameras, in order to make an informed decision on my next purchase. Perhaps this is the wrong place for this question but this is where I noticed the Mark III ….. I have read the blog topic about switching from canon other brands but haven’t seen an update! Please do tell!! 🙂
Sheesh, I had no idea I did that, Suzy. It’s just a stupid typo which I’ve now fixed. Thanks for the heads up.
I’m still agonizing over the 1DX Mark III decision. I’m extremely nervous about spending that much money given the precarious financial and health situation we’re in right now.
I really need to poop or get off the pot… 🙂
Thanks for the clarification Ron. I can’t help myself I think I was meant to be an editor. It just comes naturally, I catch all kinds of things . Maybe this was a subconscious wishful thinking thing (Mark III)!
I agree it’s a difficult time to make those kinds of financial decisions…..But there again, this may be the only time of our lives to live the dream. We don’t know what tomorrow brings, so we should live it now. Go for it!
Crisp and splendid images of the male Red-tail. You said a mouthful– some of my favorite photos would not pass the “smell test” of a purist, but I sure would settle for a few of your cast-offs!
Thanks very much, Ken.
The light on the second photo is incredibly warm and appealing.
Which is exactly why I virtually always shoot in early morning light. Thanks, April.
You sure have a knack for finding the rufous morphs. Do you think they are more common in your area?
All the shots are extraordinary. The second is most informative, as the wing displays all the primaries for examination down to the innermost primary. Good for anatomical novices like me.
“Do you think they are more common in your area?”
They might be Lyle, though neither of these birds is as dark rufous as some of the others I’ve seen in this area in past years.
All three shots are amazing in their own rights! There’s something oh so special about that banking shot. He even has a cute little tush! 🙂
I put up several copies of the scariest-looking hawk I could find and the finch is either REALLY brave or a daft git, because he’s still attacking the windows — just around the pictures. Sigh…
“He even has a cute little tush! ”
Ha, you’re spending too much (virtual) time around EC, Marty! 🙂
I think we must be “sisters from different misters.” 🤪
🙂
Oh those colours…
It is early here (just after 4) so I may struggle to properly explain myself. I do like the last shot. And the fact that she is out of focus adds to it. He is speeding like a bullet towards his goal…
Does that make any sense at all?
Makes sense to me, EC. Your presumed coffee’s working!
Fantastic photos. I am so envious of your abilities. I would so love to be able to capture birds in flight. I’m happy you are getting out to see and photograph the birds you love.
Thanks, Deedee. Birds in flight took a lot of practice for me and it’s still a work in progress.
You just cannot go wrong with Red-tails! The second shot with total exposure of the underside of body, wings and tail with the rocks and bright blue sky in the background is really gorgeous. I see them quite often but, of course, they’re waaaaay up there, so their colors and feather patterns aren’t at all as dramatic as in this image. Look forward to seeing more, more, more …. 😎
Good thing you’re looking forward to seeing more because more of them there almost surely will be. Thanks, Chris.
These are just lovely, Ron. I especially like the first one, where he’s just poised at the moment of take-off. And I can see why you like the last one. It seems to capture the relationship between the pair.
Cathy, I’d have a bit of a hard time explaining exactly why I like that third shot but I sure do.
Love that second photo! The feather detail of the wings is exceptional. The first photo makes me think of the high cliff divers ready to plunge down to the water…beautiful.
I’m glad you like them both. Thanks, Kathy.
Lovely. Just lovely. And yeah, I LOVE redtails and I’m easy! But that male is a beauty!
You’re also right that they’re late in nesting. The Cornell redtails in NY are just about to welcome their first fuzzball bobblehead! As usual, they have three eggs, so we’re all pacing in the waiting room again. Since the world always needs more redtails, I hope yours get busy soon!
Laura, since they all can’t/don’t nest at exactly the same time I guess someone has to be last. I don’t care if they’re late, I just hope they’re successful.
I think that second shot ( ventral detail ) is just gorgeous–beautiful
composition, and that look at the feather patterns is dee-lishus !
I pretty much think the same thing, Kris – despite the lack of light on his face and in his eye.
Gorgeous photos, Ron! 🙂 Failed first attempt, perhaps fertility issues, too young and clueless about nests etc.? Quite a mystery and, at this point, they aren’t telling! 😉
Thanks, Judy. The male appeared to be pretty “clueless” about mating too, as you’ll probably see when I post those photos.
Maybe they’re still in the “fumbling teenager” stage.
Ron, that second image of him banking is absolutely stunning. How do you feel about removing the vegetation in front of his wing ?
Thanks, Gary. Removing that vegetation isn’t my style. In my view nature photography has to be “real” and not manufactured. “Photo art” isn’t my bag.
Beautiful photos. That second one where he makes that vertical turn with the wings fully spread is exceptional. The light, the perfect blue sky, the rocks, everything just blends perfectly. As you mention, too bad there wasn’t more light on the face and eye, but that would have been perfection.
Interesting that they have not built their nest yet. Both our Red-tails and Great Horned Owls have chicks in their nests at this point, but we are farther south than you are.
Everett, I was surprised they didn’t have a nest in those cliffs. Perhaps it’s already built somewhere else.