Three of them within minutes of each other. I wasn’t close to any of them but I was close enough with my big lens to be sure of their ID.
Yesterday morning on my way to my intended shooting location I passed the utility poles that I’ve been reliably seeing a pair of Swainson’s Hawks perched on for much of the late summer and early fall. This late in the season I knew the Swainson’s Hawks would be gone, and they were, but when Swainson’s leave for their long migration to South America it always makes me anticipate the arrival of the Rough-legged Hawks that will take their place for the winter.
So as I drove the last few miles to my destination I had Roughies on my mind, hoping against hope that I might see my first one of the year.
And I did.
At first there was only one Roughie on the ground and it obviously had prey. But soon a second Roughie landed next to it and for a few moments they appeared to be squabbling over the prey item. When this photo was taken they had moved a little further apart and a raven had appeared from out of nowhere in an apparent attempt to snatch any leftovers.
I was disappointed that they were so far away, by my estimate about 250 yards, but it sure was good to see them!
I didn’t know it at the time of course but I was about to see yet another Roughie..
Twenty minutes later and several miles from the first sighting I encountered this third Roughie perched in a tree and fairly close. But it soon took off from that tree and landed in another tree further away, the tree we see in the upper left of this photo. The hawk took off again before I could get my lens on it so I snapped a few documentary photos as it flew away from me.
I was curious about when I’d photographed my First Of Year (FOY) Roughie in previous years so when I got home I researched my blog for some dates. Here’s what I found:
- 2014 November 8
- 2016 October 26
- 2017 October 27
- 2019 November 12
I hope you’ll forgive the less than stellar image quality of the above photos but for many of us our FOY Roughie is a very big deal so I wanted to document the occasion.
Ron
Ron..just a thank you for the wonderful photos. I live in southern NM but know your area. Your comments and observations are so welcome, the photographs are almost like being there. Very best wishes. Kate Schilling
Crows are certainly opportunists, aren’t they? So glad you saw your FOY Roughies. I’m enjoying the last shot. There’s something “story telling” about the hawk flying away. Plus, it’s an angle we don’t get to see all that often on your blog. Looking forward to more Roughies gracing your lens in the near future. (And if you don’t want your rain, we’ll take it! I watered the front tree for the migrating birds, but neglected the orange trees and it looks like the winter crop is going to be pretty useless.)
Marty, so far at least we haven’t had any rain out of these clouds. And if we ever get any I’m keeping it! 🙂
When we lived on SoCal in the 50’s and early 60’s my mother used to LOVE the smell of orange blossoms.
High drama….exciting…
Thanks, Patty.
I did a marine bird survey today during rain and wind; my fingers are warmed up enough now to type.🥶 We saw a lot of species on the water but strangely no Rough-legged Hawks.😉 Agreeing with Chris, I hope your FOY sightings portend a bounty Roughies and other birds to photograph as the fall and winter days progress. And don’t be tracking any mud and snow and ice onto those new floors.
“And don’t be tracking any mud and snow and ice onto those new floors.”
You’ve got me pegged, Lyle. I’m paranoid about getting those floors dirty. I imagine (hope) over time I’ll become a little more accepting of “normal” dust and clutter.
Thanks.
You’re welcome Richard.
That must have lifted your spirits immeasurably. I note in the comments that you have ‘weather’ coming your way – but hope that you can see more and closer. Soon.
Thanks, EC. That “weather” is already here and it’s supposed to hang around for a while. Unfortunate timing so soon after getting my lens repaired.
We go to Klamath Falls in January to see Rough-Legged Hawks. Two weeks ago, though, we saw a Roughie at Point Reyes, which was a big surprise for us.
John, the more Roughies, in the more places, the better as far as I’m concerned.
Nice to see them back.
Yup.
I’d say any day with hawks in the viewfinder is a good day, a day with Roughies has to be a great day, whether the photos you get are stellar or less-than. I am glad to be able to vicariously enjoy their arrival in your territory, and look forward to your next sighting of these beautiful raptors.
Thanks, Chris. I can’t imagine a winter without them.
Not one but three, yay😁 Love this time of year there’s so much to see. I went to our newly remodeled fish hatchery yesterday. I’ve seen them many times climbing the ladder but it’s still exciting to see.
Have a good day.
Thanks, Diana.
There’s never a need to apologize for documentary photos. Better those than nothing and if we didn’t have lean days we wouldn’t appreciate the stellar result days, (or so I am told). Besides, the narrative is half the pleasure at least. Looking forward now to your next sighting.
“Looking forward now to your next sighting”.
Thanks, Granny Pat. It might be a while, we’ve got some weather moving in for the next few days.
Cool! They’re pretty much on schedule according to previous years…. 🙂 The Raven’s/Crows/Magpies always seem to be “Johnny on the spot” looking for tidbits….
Judy, in some of those years others had been reporting Roughie sightings for some time before I got my first photos of them. But yes, these birds appear to have been “pretty much on schedule”.