Yesterday was a Red-tailed Hawk kind of day. In fact red-tails were just about the only birds I photographed during my morning in the mountains of the west desert but most of them weren’t particularly cooperative.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 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 one came closest to being a willing subject. ‘She’ was perched at the top of a juniper in reasonably good light and she was even turned broadside to me before she took off. I made the mistake of stopping my pickup just a little too close to her for takeoff and flight shots so…
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
when she took off I…
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
clipped her left wing in what was potentially the best shot I got of her.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 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 clipped or cut off body parts in many of the flight shots that followed but I got lucky with this one. I managed to get a couple of other flight shots with no amputated body parts but I didn’t like them much. This photo is full frame (uncropped) so as you can see I had very little wiggle room, especially for a bird in flight.
This may not be the best takeoff series I’ve ever taken but it’s been a very long time since I’ve posted any hawk photos so I figured some of us, including yours truly, would appreciate a long overdue raptor fix.
Ron
Nice to get a few up close keepers!
It sure was.
Once sgain ypucsptite so wonderfully my favorite pose…the fling of freedom in take off…👍
Thanks, Patty.
Sensational series Ron, Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Charlotte.
Absolutely beautiful (despite the partial amputation). I am so glad that you (and we) got our raptor fix.
Each and every time I see them I am blown away by how magnificent, majestic and marvellous they are.
EC, she is an adult so she has a beautiful red tail. I wish we could see the top of it in these photos.
I wish I could too. Still in lockdown here, and your images (as always) expand my world.
There is no such thing as a “common red-tail” (or any hawk, for that matter), they are marvels of avian engineering and I cheer for every one I catch sight of. But I especially adore RTs, and so appreciate your photos of this one — clipped wing or not, she’s a beauty!
Thank you, Chris.
She’s a beaut! So nice to see a RTHA grace (and I do mean grace) the pages of your blog again. So glad you got to spend some “up close and personal” time with her and that you shared the results with all of us.
I wonder what’s up with the feathers around her wrists and “hands.” I was going to guess that she’s finishing up her molt, but her left looks worse than her right — or maybe it’s just the angle.
Thank you, Marty. Most of the red-tails I saw yesterday looked at least a little rough around the edges. I guess it’s that time of year.
Perching and takeoff shots, eyecatches in every one, junipers with berries, and beautiful blue, blue sky.👏
Yup. Thanks, Lyle.
Beautiful! Didn’t get totally skunked……. 😉 Even with a clipped wing the take off shot is great – really shows the power in those legs.
Haven’t been a lot of raptors around this summer but then that isn’t “prime time” here. Have seen a few more on the power poles on the way to town the last week or so – no, I didn’t identify them…can’t drive and gawk any more😇
“can’t drive and gawk any more”
Boy, do I ever get that! When I’m looking for photo subjects I’m usually out in the middle of nowhere on dirt or gravel roads so I drive slowly and gawk to my heart’s content. But when I’m on asphalt, going much faster, it’s strictly eyes on the road.
So good to see this beautiful bird. Thanks for your clear glimpses and deep appreciation!
Mary
Thank you, Mary.
Great to see you back out there tracking those hawks. That slightly clipped one is really good as is the in-flight shot. Your shots make me realize that I have not run into a Red-tail in quite a while.
“Your shots make me realize that I have not run into a Red-tail in quite a while”
It had been a long time for me too, Everett. I hadn’t posted any new red-tail photos since June 15 of this year – very unusual for me.
Any Red-tailed Hawk kind of day is a great day to me! Beautiful photos Ron. I love the full body extension in your third photo – beak to talons and tail, and wing tip to wing tip. Impressive!
Thanks, Mark. Yes, red-tails are always impressive, even though they’re ‘common’ in many areas. I know a bird photographer who once said he ignores red-tails because they’re so common in his area north of San Diego. I just don’t understand that but to each his own I guess.
I don’t care if you clipped a part of her/his wing. These are beautiful photographs. I’m fond of all the hawks.
Good. Thank you, Karen.