In birds behavioral tendencies can often be predicted with reasonable accuracy but individuals sometimes fake me right out of my shoes.
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
Eleven days ago this adult rufous Red-tailed Hawk was perched in a dead tree in the west desert. The bird looks like a female to me so I’ll refer to her as such.
I liked the setting but she was a little too far away for quality photos while she was perched and she had her back to me anyway. I was at a good distance from her for takeoff and flight shots but if she did take off I’d have bet my shutter finger that she’d launch in the direction she’s facing. Typically raptors don’t take off in the direction of a potential threat such as me inside my pickup.
I had very little hope of getting any photos I’d like so I was about to stow my gear and leave the area when…
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
she pooped.
More often than not when perched raptors defecate it’s a sign of imminent takeoff but she was still facing mostly away from me so for all practical purposes nothing had changed. Whether the bird is perched or in flight I simply don’t need any more butt shots.
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
Even when she turned broadside to me for a moment I still figured she’d take off toward the mountain in the background. After all, she likely wouldn’t take off to my right because of all the branches in her way and I’d already discarded the possibility that she’d launch in my direction. Besides the potential threat I posed there were also more branches between me and the bird (some of which can’t be seen here) to make it far less likely that she’d come my way.
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
But she had other plans. She began to raise her wings and…
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
then sort of toppled over on her perch as part of her effort to avoid the branch in front of her as she came my way.
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
In perhaps the most dramatic photo of the series I clipped a wing because of her almost vertical wing orientation.
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
The timing of her wing beats allowed her to avoid all the branches on her right with her right wing and then…
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
she was gone. I didn’t get any spectacularly good shots but she gave me more experience with how to deal with situations like this, which I appreciate.
I realize that all this minutia may be more than many of my readers care much about – you may just want to see the photos and have little interest in the process of getting them.
But as the photographer I have to think about stuff like this and sometimes it works its way into my blog posts.
Ron
Note: After I posted Mia reminded me that a woman riding an ATV probably influenced this bird’s direction of takeoff.
Fabulous takeoff series! She’s something else! Sorry she got spooked by an entitled idiot.
Your minutia is what makes your blog to incredibly interesting. Please never stop it. What a wonderful series. Thanks.
I appreciate your encouragement, Alice. Thank you.
GREAT SERIES…am always amazed at how they avoid crashing into branches with those wide spread wings..wonderful, crisp, shots…👍
They’re pretty amazing aren’t they, Patty. Thanks.
Blown away. Flight awes me anyway, but a take off like that notches it up into the stratosphere.
How lucky that you ARE hardwired to take shots. Lucky for you, and for us. I feel for you about the mini amputation but am still blown away.
Thanks, EC. To be honest clipping that wing didn’t bother me as much as it usually does, partly because there’s so little light in her eyes in that shot.
I love the sideways launch! very exciting series.
Thank you, April.
A beautiful Red-tail — she’s so dark compared to those I normally see out here, really striking. I especially like the fourth photo — she’s got her path outta there all figured out, despite those irritating (for her and you) branches in the way. And the spread of those wings in #6 (even with a bit of a clip) … fantastic!
Chris, I was disappointed to clip that wing but when it comes right down to it I was lucky I didn’t clip more of it.
What a gorgeous hawk!! Beautiful images!!
Thank you, Dick.
Superb series Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Oh my, Ron! What abeautiful bird, and a great contortionist! Thanks for sharing this morning.
Thank you, Diane.
Once again you have taken my breath away. These are stunning and beautiful photos.
Thank you,
Kaye
Park City, UT
Thanks very much, Kaye.
Outstanding series. About to stow your gear and go home and then the “good” Murphy shows up and gives you a great show. In that 6th photo you’re thinking her wing will hit that branch, but then of course it does not and she continues on her flight toward you.
Just curious – how far from her do you think you were?
And hey, the minutia is good. I think many of us appreciate seeing how you accomplished a photo.
Thanks, Everett. I hesitate to hazard a guess about how far away I was from her. Usually I judge distance by how large the bird is in my viewfinder.
She is a beauty for sure. I’m always amazed at the take-offs and flying through the trees when watching the hawks. Looking at ‘8135’ I couldn’t imagine how she could avoid hitting at least part of her wing but the reflexes or ‘radar system’ these birds must have is phenomenal! I see the smaller birds flying rapidly into a cockspur hawthorn to avoid becoming prey and it’s the same thing…they avoid all the perils. What a gift they have.
“the reflexes or ‘radar system’ these birds must have is phenomenal”
Kathy, in these situations I always wonder whether their maneuvering through obstacles is planned or strictly a combination of instincts and reflexes. I suspect it’s mostly the latter but I still can’t help but wonder.
The Red-tailed Hawk took off in that direction because of the noisy ATV that was to the northeast of her that the crazy woman was driving in circles.
That’s right. I forgot about her.
That would do it……..good for Ron, BUT not for the hawk…….😞
Amazing take-off!
Thanks, Arwen.
WOW! 😀 Impressive sequence of events! How she managed that feat of acrobatics is beyond me! Appears getting her tail slightly hung up on a twig didn’t faze her a bit! I’d have been sitting there with my mouth open and nothing to show for it! 😳
Judy, my mouth was probably open but I’m hard-wired to get the shots whether good, bad or indifferent.
Hope you had a fun plane ride with your brother yesterday.
It WAS fun even with the “haze” that was supposed to have cleared out… 🙂 Smooth ride with only a few “bumps” – plan for jump door to be open for photography didn’t work (old skydiving plane) due to added weight from upholstery etc. so closed window with all that entails was it….😉