Yesterday morning the fog was threatening but it mostly stayed away.
More often than not my flight shots are taken immediately or very soon after takeoff because it tends to be easier to stay locked on to a bird than it is to acquire sharp focus after they’re already in flight. So, many of my flight shots show a flight posture that is easily recognizable as post-takeoff, i.e., with the legs still extended backward and downward from pushing off during takeoff. For those kinds of shots the legs are never fully tucked up against the tail.
So when I get a bird in what I call “full flight” I think it’s a bit more of an accomplishment.
1/8000, 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
Yesterday morning I tried to approach this adult male Rough-legged Hawk while he was perched by backing my pickup a little closer to him. But he was having none of it and took off mostly away from me so with my big lens still stowed in my lens caddy I began to drive away to look for other birds. But while I was driving forward he unexpectedly began to curl around and fly closer and nearly parallel to my pickup in order to land on another favorite raptor perch in front of me.
I was almost sure I wouldn’t have time to stop my pickup, grab my lens, aim it out my window and lock focus on him before he was past me but I tried anyway. And surprisingly I succeeded. In fact I got about half a dozen sharp shots of him in flight and this is one of my favorites.
I like my shooting angle on the bird, his wing position and the catch light in his eye. And I think he’s an unusually handsome roughie.
The fact that he’s in full flight adds just a little extra something special, at least for me. These kinds of flight shots have no hint of the dynamic stretching/reaching postures of recent takeoff but they’re harder to get so I see them as a bit more of an accomplishment.
Ron
Note: Though it’s possible I don’t believe I flushed this hawk. I think he was just ready to fly to another one of his favorite perches.
I feel like I could count the myriad of colors on this fella. He is simply stunning. I clapped my hands when I saw this photo. 😀 Did you hear me?
I didn’t, but I hear you now, Arwen!
A hint on how you know this is a male?
Sallie, the breast of adult males is usually more heavily marked (darker) than the belly but it’s the opposite in adult females.
Thanks! Subtle, as so many of these distinctions are.
You’re very welcome.
I’m thinking you may be ”The Roughie Whisperer” — this beautiful shot of a handsome fella in full-flight mode is really something to behold. But you’ve been having success with them for quite awhile, so it’s not simply luck. So glad all the pieces came together for this one.
Chris, I didn’t have much luck with them last year. Hardly any of them showed up! I’m sure glad we have good numbers of them this winter.
Maybe you just whispered loud enough and long enough, they finally decided to come visit! 😉
Such a cool shot, Ron! Definite A for difficulty and maneuvering! 😃
Thanks, Teach!
Right back atcha!
This shot is simply stunning and well worth your efforts. I gather that this location has very little traffic to worry about and is therefore a pretty safe location for this but your description reminds me of the many not-so-traffic-conscious maneuvers I used to “execute” trying to capture bird shots on back roads where there was no refuge route available. Thankfully some motorists were more tolerant than one might expect of “crazy bird photographers” who totally forgot about traffic while in bird heaven. 😁
Granny Pat, I don’t allow myself to “forget” about traffic. The price to pay is potentially too great. But traffic really isn’t an issue in this location.
What a truly beautiful bird and a stunning shot. How I would love to be able to take to the skies like that…
Yup, me too, EC. Thanks.
Congrats on an absolutely gorgeous full flight shot! Did not know these are difficult to capture.
Kathleen, flight shots aren’t easy almost by definition but in my experience capturing them in “full flight” is a little harder than immediately after takeoff.
Gorgeous!
Thanks, Nancy.
All the elements are there for a lucky shot. Except, of course, luck has nothing to do with it.
Handsome he is, which I don’t think would be so apparent were he not in flight.
“which I don’t think would be so apparent were he not in flight”
You’re right, Lyle. It usually isn’t and it wasn’t with this bird either.
Thank you!! Nice brightening for dull, grey, icy rainy day!
Thanks, Mary. We have rain coming too, then snow around Christmas.
The detail in the whites of the flight feathers really popped out in this shot-
in some places, showing a zig-zag pattern– made me aware of wind dynamics
those feathers bear while in flight–such wonderful details you can capture !
Thanks, Kris. The relatively soft morning light helped to show that detail in the lighter colors under his wing.
An excellent image! I really like the light on the underside of the closest wing and on the body. That catch light really does it too!
Catch lights matter don’t they, Bruce. Thanks.
This is a beautiful shot. Really like their colors especially in full flight. Those Roughie legs are tucked in and almost completely out of sight. Picking up a bird in full flight and getting a photo this good is definitely a challenge. Great job.
Thanks, Everett. As a bird photographer you obviously ‘get it’.
Love this one! His coloring is gorgeous 💜
I agree, Beth. It is.
Excellent! A beautiful Roughy. 🙂 Catching and tracking in full flight IS a challenge. The feathered legs certainly DO “disappear” in this position.
“The feathered legs certainly DO “disappear” in this position.
They sure do. Streamlining does have its advantages. Thanks, Judy.
Heartwarming to us who no long can be in the nature we used to be in after ,17 yrs in the Adirondacks on dirt road.
Thanks
John
Thanks, John. I love out of the way dirt roads as much as it sounds like you do, even though they mean that I can NEVER keep my pickup clean.
Simply a beautiful photograph! What else can you say.
What you said works for me, Joanne!
What a stunningly beautiful bird! Terrific photo Ron. Thanks!
Thanks very much, Mark.
Great shot, love it!!
Good. Thanks, Dick.