Recently I reported the possible untimely demise of two Red-tailed Hawk fledglings from what I called “nest B”. Yesterday I discovered that both siblings are doing just fine.
They were hanging out on the mountainside below and fairly close to their cliff nest. As they typically do at this age they preferred each other’s company which allowed me to get some photos that included them both, even though one was largely hidden.
They were flying well but they still rely on the adults for food so they were sometimes calling loudly, apparently to be fed.
One of the parents was watching over the youngsters from much further away and high above them. This image is a very large crop and when I took the photo I didn’t even notice the Rock Wren (I believe) on the left scolding the adult hawk.
Here one of the youngsters has moved a few feet away from its sibling and is calling loudly, apparently for food. I removed my teleconverter so I’d have more room in the frame for two possible events – the other sibling joining this one and interacting with each other or this one taking off.
It was the latter that eventually occurred.
My heart sank a little when it launched in my direction because when they fly toward the photographer their body provides a smaller profile for active focus points to stay locked onto. The result is often soft shots soon after takeoff.
But this time I had better luck.
As the bird veered slightly to my left I managed to stay locked on but the wings are soft. I’ll explain why in a minute.
I like diagonal compositions of birds in flight when the wingtips reach toward opposite corners of the frame. More often than not I clip at least one wing in this situation so it’s a damn good thing I removed my tc.
This is the last shot I managed to get before I started chopping off body parts.
OK, what about those soft wingtips in photo #6? It isn’t a depth of field issue, it’s motion blur. Somehow I’d inadvertently changed my aperture from f/6.3 to f/9. I actually did it twice that morning and it wasn’t done purposely either time so I had no idea I was shooting at that setting. For shot #6 where the wings were moving rapidly my shutter speed had dropped down to 1/1250 so they’re soft.
But I’m not really complaining. Soft wings when much or all of the rest of the bird is sharp can actually be a positive because the softness implies motion which is appropriate for the wings of a bird in flight.
Besides, after finding both siblings safe and sound I’m not in the mood to complain about much of anything. I thought there was a very good chance they were both dead.
Ron
I do like the images of the siblings , as well as the wren giving them what-for-all.
Well I just got up, so that is my excuse. I thought the the larger aperture number would give you more DOF but okay, it is a speed issue. I need to “up” my shutter speed, thanks.
I don’t require such good news every time – but it was a very welcome bonus today.
I am very late to the party having had a cow of a day so it is WONDERFUL to get such good news.
Truly, ruly wonderful.
I will probably be late to the party tomorrow too but will (in the fullness of time) get here.
Another wonderful series…love the composition, colors…sage, rocks, lichens and expressions…
Thanks very much, Patty.
Thanks for checking back to find the kids are well. And very photogenic.
Yup, they are.
Good news…always welcome! I really love that first photo of the two youngsters! They both are most appealing. How much longer to you think they will stay together or with the parent near-by?
Kathy, it’s hard to predict. Juveniles can still receive food from their parents for up to 8 weeks after fledging but it varies. And I imagine how long they remain in the nest area depends on how much it was depleted of prey while the chicks were being raised.
Oh, I do love a (mostly) happy ending to a fraught story. Though I worry about the dadās outcome, Iām glad these kids are of the age that Mama Red-tail can care for them on her own, if need be. Love all these images, especially that āsidewinderā view, but am I the only to think of baby giraffe in the 4th shot, with juvieās bespeckled/patterned legs hanging down? š¬
(And I also see that white āstuffā Laura sees on the left foot …)
Thanks for a great update on a Monday morning, Ron!
Thanks a lot, Chris. Now I can’t unsee that baby giraffe…
My work is done here! š
I am happy they are alive, they are lovely photos.
Me too. Thanks, April.
Wow, these shots really capture a sense of power and movement. And it’s great to hear that the fledglings are okay. I guess the crying mom the other week was just responding to a nearby threat of some sort.
Cathy, Iāll likely never know what she was screaming about for so long but Iām sure curious about it.
Great update Ron! I couldn’t read your earlier post “Red-Tailed Hawk Angst” – I knew it would haunt me too and preferred not to know any details (I did go back to read it now!). What wonderful pictures of the fledglings, and hopefully the other adult is safe too.
I’m worried about the other adult, Carol. I think it’s the male and I haven’t seen him on my last 3 trips to the area.
YAY! Some happy news! I was devastated when you mentioned that you thought they hadn’t made it. If I hadn’t blown out my knee in April (still waiting for surgery), I’d be doing a happy dance right now. Just go ahead and picture a klutz dancing. š
That diagonal comp is so striking — my second favorite bird pose after “wing fling.” Look at that flared tail too! Gorgeous! And as for mystery aperture changes, I say Gremlins.
Gremlins or Murphy, take your pick. Maybe both.
Good luck with that knee, Marty. Thankfully both of mine have held up so far.
Glad they are doing well. I’ve been missing in action. Had an exciting week at work that included the words laid-off. š Whoops!
Oh no! I’m so sorry, Arwen.
Thank you! Iām making the best of it. š Iāve opened up my reading times and am booking up. Whoo hoo
Oh oh. I hope it comes to some kind of conclusion that you can make work for you, Arwen.
I had something similar happen to me soon after I started teaching. Because of declining enrollment the school district laid off all teachers that had been teaching for 3 years or less and that included me. I’d just bought a house I could barely afford and my daughter Shannon had just been born. I was devastated and scared to death.
Thankfully my principal went to bat for me with the district and I got my job back. I’ll be forever in debt to Dr. Doug Williams for that.
Oh so sorry Arwen! Hope you get re-employed soon!
Laura, thank you. Iām actually fortunate in that I have something to fall back on!
Ron, Iām hoping that two things come from this pandemic. 1. Better pay for our healthcare workers and 2. Better pay for teachers. Iām betting that all those parents having to home school and entertain bored kids are ripe for voting yes on teacher pay increase. š
YIPPEE!! YEE HAW!! YAY!! I knew that believing they were OK just might work š Can you see me dancing a jig? Life for baby redtails is strenuous as it is so just YAY!! I love the motion blur–not always but showing speed is also a good thing. I love the takeoffs, the diagonal, the rock wren (?), the stoic parent, and of course, the lichen. The parents are really busy keeping these babies fed and the kiddos’ cries are loud, plaintive and insistent (ongoing).
There seems to be something on the left foot of the youngster on photos 6 and 7. I’m seeing what could be some white fluff on the outside of the foot or possibly something else. Any chance you can zoom in to see if there’s something there or if I’m just crazy.
Again, just YAY!! We need all the good news we can get these days!!
Laura, I’ll make the attempt and if I can tell what it is I’ll get back to you here.
Laura, I’m pretty sure it’s a clump of white fluffy feathers.
Fastastic Ron and THANKS! My first thought was something more sinister like bumblefoot. DELIGHTED to hear my second though was the better one!
Iām with Laura ā fluffy downy feathers always better than bumblefoot! Whew.
All these, but especially the last two shots are my favorites! Just Gorgeous!! I respectfully am envious of the time you have with these hawks.
Many thanks for sharing, stay safe!
Dick, I’ve been lucky enough to spend significant time with fledgling red-tails in this same area several times in past years. To quote Yogi, yesterday felt like “deja vu all over again”.
We need all the good news we can get. Great photos of these beauties. Thanks, Ron.
We sure do. Thanks, Sarah.
Wonderful series Ron !! I too like a diagonal wing shot. Like a banking fighter jet turning on it’s adversary it shows action !!
Agreed, Gary. There’s just something special about diagonal comps of birds in flight, raptors in particular.
WOW! Glad they are fine and beautiful flight shots regardless of “soft” wings. š The 2nd flight shot with it’s legs really stretched out really grabs my attention! š Why/how we change settings at times often remains a “mystery” š
Judy, that aperture change remains a mystery. I hadn’t been shooting at f/9 immediately before this series and I didn’t change it deliberately. And it happened TWICE.
Finding them alive and well makes your day. The great photos are then just a bonus. Love the shots of him coming at you, and you are right, the softness in the wings does indicate motion so all is well. Excellent morning for you.
Thanks, Everett. These days good news is a rarity so I really globbed onto this bit of serendipity.