When you’re ‘out there’ you just never know what’s going to happen.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago I waited patiently for this male Bullock’s Oriole to come down from his lofty perch and fly in closer to me. He never did but while I was waiting the focus of my attention instantly went elsewhere when…
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
this male Red-tailed Hawk flew in from behind my pickup and landed near the top of a nearby steep and rocky hill/cliff. His completely unexpected appearance instantly became more exciting when I realized that he had prey in his left foot – an unfortunate vole.
There’s a red-tail nest nearby so I was pretty sure this was the local male with a food delivery for the tiny chicks in the nest. But I was surprised when he landed here so close to me because the nest was quite a distance away.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
While he was there the vole in his left foot was hidden from view and he didn’t stay long before he took off in the direction of the nest.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When he took off I got a better look at the vole, especially when I…
cropped in tightly on the previous photo. A distinct catch light in the open eye of the vole is a strong indication that it was still alive.
I don’t think (or at least I hope) the fact that I like to see the intimate details of the prey items of raptors is an indication that I have a tendency for the macabre. It’s more a matter of interest and curiosity.
Ron
I enjoy the circle of life photos. The only time I’ve not enjoyed them was on an eagle video (web nest cam) where the eagle brought back a family pet. 🙁 Apparently children were watching it (that’s how I heard about it.) Ummm, well, guys? This is why we keep them inside or under supervision.
Great capture!
What fabulous pictures and narrative! (Not to mention the FP fan mail. 😉)
I’m glad I have a chance tonight to at least catch up on this exciting story — Orioles and Red-tails being favorite subjects of mine. I do have sympathy for the little vole and hope his end was not too harrowing, but I’m happy to think a couple of hawklets got to enjoy breakfast with Dad.
I’m on my way to Antelope Island tomorrow (tho’ not at the crack of dawn) — really looking forward to exploring an area I’ve heard so much about from you. Hoping we might catch sight (thru binocs) of a Burrowing Owl or two. A girl can dream!
Chris, I hope you have fun on the island but I’ve got to warn you – it’s no-see-um season on the island right now! They can make life truly miserable, not only while you’re there but for days after, especially if you’re allergic to their bites.
You might want to consider purchasing gnat netting at the visitor center.
Poor Voley-Vole. I wish he’d put the little guy out of his misery right away. Gorgeous shots all around — the excitement of Nature. Hope the chicks enjoyed their repast.
“I wish he’d put the little guy out of his misery right away”
Sometimes I think they do, Marty. It keeps them from being bitten, which is always a risk with these little rodents.
I do hope that the vole didn’t stay alive for long. An amazing contrast – and I can just imagine the excitement in your car…
” I do hope that the vole didn’t stay alive for long.”
I can assure you he didn’t, EC. Every time I’ve seen the male land on the nest with a vole, pieces of the rodent are being fed to the chicks almost immediately.
Part of my sensitive self hopes that the vole had a heart attack before being fed to the young ‘uns…
I would have…
Me too. Quite early in the piece.
Your depth of field is amazing, considering you were shooting at f/5.6 – seeing the eyes of both in focus. It looks like the hawk allowed the vole to finish eating his last meal. Sad but beautiful.
Kent, I wasn’t all that close to the hawk which accounts for how much DOF I had in that shot. Usually I don’t shoot at 5.6 but it seemed like the best choice for the far away oriole I’d been shooting when the hawk showed up (I changed from 6.3 to 5.6 soon after I took the oriole photo).
Interesting (and familiar) sequence, and makes one grateful that we are nearer the top of the food chain.
Thanks, Michael.
Absolutely stunning photos, as usual!!! I, too, am fascinated by the prey/predator photos.
I had to explain to my nieces yesterday that cats are both predators and prey!
Thank you, Nicole.
From 0 to 60 in two shots; calm to commotion.
In the first photo of the Red-tailed Hawk those trailing wing feathers immediately reminded me of the crested feathers of a Harpy Eagle. And it looked like he had a huge spider in his talons. Weird first impressions.
Some great action shots between yesterday and today.
“From 0 to 60 in two shots; calm to commotion.”
That was pretty much it, Lyle. With two photographers inside my pickup it got pretty exciting in there instantly.
Wow that does make for an exciting morning. Great shots and close up. I think the Oriole was disappointed – he was looking forward to being the headliner for FP Today.
You don’t spend much time thinking about raptor’s prey, but when you see a close up of the poor guy with his eyes open you have to have some compassion for him.
I had that once when taking a photo of a Kestrel who took off from a tree in our yard and went down to the golf course, grabbed a mouse, and came right back to the tree. In my photos you could clearly see the mouse’s eyes and he was very much alive.
Everett, in situations like that it can be hard to not feel at least a little compassion, no matter what kind of prey it is. Thanks.
We so seldom have an opportunity to witness “nature in action” that we can be forgiven if we find interest in the details of potential prey. Both from a curious as well as technical point of view. Who but a photographer would even notice the catch light in the eye of vole about to be brunch?
I would have happy to grab a shot of that oriole and then gone home and missed all the ensuing drama.
“Who but a photographer would even notice the catch light in the eye of vole about to be brunch?”
Probably not many, Wally. But if their eye is open I always look for it.
That WAS quite a surprise! 🙂 Wasn’t separating out the “salad bar” at that point either! Beautiful Oriole, beautiful hawk and deatail of the vole…… 🙂 This time of year particularly “busy” with all the nesting going on.
“This time of year particularly “busy” with all the nesting going on”
That’s right, Judy. There’s actually two active red-tail nests in the same general area but neither one of them is very good for photography.
Perhaps a parental demonstration of “how-to” back at the nest?
Perhaps…