On a recent post I said that I seldom stop to photograph buteos on utility poles but yesterday morning I made an exception for a young Ferruginous Hawk. A dramatic, spinning takeoff made me glad I did.
1/6400, f/8, 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
This winter I’ve seen and photographed more Rough-legged Hawks and fewer Ferruginous Hawks than usual so yesterday morning when I found this immature Ferrug on a utility pole I couldn’t resist getting ‘him’ in my viewfinder and having a look. I’m not fond of having utility wires and hardware in my photos so my best hope was for post-takeoff flight shots.
But even that hope was a very long shot because he had his back to me, so if/when he took off he would most likely give me only butt shots in flight. But there was a possibility that he’d take off laterally to me so I waited a while to see what he might do.
Having him twist on his perch during takeoff and fly mostly toward me was such a remote possibility that I didn’t even consider it.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm
But that’s exactly what he did.
When I looked at my photos of his takeoff the word “pirouette” immediately came to mind, even though technically this maneuver doesn’t qualify because he performed his spin on both feet instead of just one. Close enough for me.
When I first pulled up on this bird I was using my 500mm lens and I was too close to him to avoid cutting off body parts if he took off. So not long before he launched I switched to my smaller zoom lens, my “baby lens”. This time I made a good choice at the right time. All too often that doesn’t happen.
This is my favorite flight posture of the series. But you know me and “hardware” so I…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm
had to see what the photo would look like without all the wires and insulators.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm
When he initially took off he went higher than I expected him to, so even with my smaller lens I clipped body parts. As a result I’m not including two of those shots. But I like this one as he was completing his turn mostly in my direction prior to flying over my right shoulder.
I just wish I liked utility poles and hardware in my photos as much as raptors like to perch on them.
Ron
Spectacular shots Ron, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Count me in as one of the fans of Buteo regalis! We don’t get them here in Minnesota, at least not in the Eastern half. This picture gives a fine example of how much smaller their talons are when compared to Red Tailed Hawks. Despite the smaller size, I know they are just as capable hunting tools. Nice pictures!
Wonderful! That second one is sort of an … avian yoga stretch. Made me stand right up and do it myself. Thanks!
Hope you didn’t fall over, Ellen!
Well, I didn’t fall over, Ron, but I wasn’t as graceful as that bird, either!
I’d probably have fallen over…
Pretty nifty Ferrug!
Yup.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Michael.
I just love Ferruginous Hawks!!! This series (hardware and all) is gorgeous. We see them here in California and I count myself very lucky!!
Thanks. I’m pretty fond of them myself.
It’s not fair that you get raptors that we don’t get here. The consolation is that I get to see these wonderful photos. Also, I don’t think we have power lines like that😄
Lyle, many (most?) of ours don’t look like this either.
Hey Ron! These are great! I sent you an email with an interview request and I’m wondering if you got it.. sorry to bother you again. Thank you!
Simone, I’m afraid I’m not interesting in doing the radio interview.
Wow again. I love the pictures of a Ferruginous Hawk. Beautiful colors.
And thanks again, Trudy.
I love the lift off shot, beautiful capture and bird! Nice. Wish he had a crop bulge and I would be over the moon. Utility poles are part of their environment so I guess they are not as bad in my view. Yes natural is best but natural isn’t as tall out there.
April, I’m glad they have the poles and such to perch on and hunt from, they’re just not my favorite things to have in my photos.
Like a fan dancer — he really knows how to unfurl those wings and legs to full effect! A fabulous Ferrug for sure! (Dare I add … fabulous photography, too!?)😎
Sure you can dare, Chris – especially with a nice compliment like that.
MAGNIFICENT.
Thanks.
Nureyev lives! What a ballet of a take-off. Someone in the NM Critters Facebook group posted a gorgeous Ferruginous yesterday.
Rudy the Ferrug!
Lol
Your photos of the last couple of weeks have decided me–I think that
Ferruginous Hawks are my favorite raptors– their coloring and proportions
are just so elegant and powerful ! Even with the hardware visible, shot #2
just makes me exclaim out loud–“WOW”…….
“their coloring and proportions are just so elegant and powerful”
Another reason that “Buteo regalis” is a fitting scientific name for them.
Ron, another great series and turning towards you .. icing on the cake!! As my group of golden geezers always say .. ” you never know unless you go!!” What a great way to enjoy life!!
“you never know unless you go”
Thanks, Jerry. That’s one of my favorite mantras.
They are flat out gorgeous take off shots. If I took those and had the ability to clone out those wires etc I sure would do it. Woody’s stunning is the right adjective.
Thanks, Everett. I couldn’t resist cloning them out just to see what it would look like.
Glorious!
😁
Soaring! So glad to see this, Ron! Thank you.
Thanks, Mary.
What a great series of photos. Stunning!
Glad you think so, Woody.
Wow, wow! A beautiful shot, as for the wire, it is what it is…beautiful!
Yup, it is what it is. Thanks, Connie.
VBG!! 🙂 Beautiful shots power pole be damned! 1st shot is stunning.
Thanks, Judy.
Absolutely Beautiful, utility pole or not!!
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Dick.