A species I’ve posted very few photos of this year.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Four days ago this adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk was perched in an attractive juniper tree that could have contributed to some nice photos if the bird had been closer. I was further disappointed when ‘she’ chose the exact moment I was checking my exposure to take off from the juniper, so I missed those initial shots. For some reason that happens far more often than I would expect it to just by chance.
But she cooperated by flying in a direction that allowed me to get some flight shots that I like pretty well, even though she wasn’t particularly close.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Ten frames in the burst later she was a little closer and this flight posture provided two things I like – a well-lit look at the patterns and colors of the plumage beneath her left wing and a shadow of her head on the same wing.
I’ve seen a fair number of Swainson’s Hawks this summer but this year most of them seem to be hanging out in areas where they primarily perch on power poles so I typically haven’t even tried to photograph them. I checked and I’ve only published two blog posts this year containing recent photos of Swainson’s Hawks (this is the third). So few Swainson’s posts is unusual for me.
Hopefully I’ll have a few more opportunities with them before they head for South America for the winter.
Ron
She is truly beautiful. Thank you.
I agree, EC. Strikingly so.
If I were ever able
To soar with wings dihedral
If only for an hour
To feel the gentle power
Of the dance of air and feather
It wouldn’t matter whether
‘twas a moment or forever
The memory would remain
Of this Hawk’s sublime domain
“If I were ever able” I’d feel the same way, Lyle.
And me. Emphatically and me.
Swainson’s are beautiful hawks and one that I have only seen once here. That second sentence says it all for bird photographers worldwide. How many times have I just started focusing on a song bird or a raptor or eagle, and off they go. It is a happening that is far too common. Almost as if they know what you are about to do and take flight just to frustrate you.
Speaking of Swainson and Cooper and Wilson etc yesterday’s Audubon e-mail discussed the subject of should we get rid of these honorific names and rename our birds with names attributed to their nature or their surroundings etc.
Everett, I’ve discussed that bird-naming controversy on my blog. Some folks feel pretty strongly about it, both ways.
Beautiful! Luv the coloring and contrast between head/wings/belly……..they aren’t real common here.
Better day today it seems……. 🙂
Hand watering the 3 tomato plants I have out of a jug as well as the cucumber and sorry zucchini – pretty bad when I can’t grow zucchini! 😉
“Better day today it seems”
Judy, any day is better than two days ago.
My entire garden was a failure this year. Partly due to my inability to work in it but the incredibly hot weather was a big factor too. Lots of other folks around here are saying the same thing about their gardens.
Heat a HUGE issue. Resorted to some white shade cloth for it(it’s a 4 x 8′ at this point in my life) – that got the tomatoes going anyway……. Lots of complaints from even great gardners here also…
This Swainson’s is beauty, power and grace. Lovely photos, Ron. Her flight feathers are perfect and her demeanor focused. My favorite is the first shot with her wings up ready to begin the downbeat to propel her forward. Your photos are so exciting that I feel like I am there watching her.
“Your photos are so exciting that I feel like I am there watching her.”
Good. That’s the potential power of bird photography. Or at least one of them.
Very nice Ron. Both really beautiful shots.
These are a pretty rare sight for me. While I have read that there is a breeding population in California’s Central Valley, the few I have seen I believe to be migrants. Here in California the Department of Fish and Game has considered them a threatened species since 1983.
“Here in California the Department of Fish and Game has considered them a threatened species since 1983.”
Interesting, Michael. That surprises me. And of course, disappoints me.
Very nice exposures. At least it did not disappear before you were ready for the shot. My beef is with small birds which evaporate just as I am raising my camera.
I have that same beef, Kenneth. In fact I have a lot of similar beefs, so many I’ve considered opening my own butcher shop.
What a beautiful photo of such a beautiful bird! Thank you.
Thanks, Richard.