This time on a perch that steals the show.
A week ago today I photographed an adult Red-tailed Hawk that still had light eyes and the next day I posted a photo of that bird, along with an explanation of how that combination (light eyes of an immature bird and red tail of an adult) occasionally occurs in the same bird.
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
About 15 minutes before I photographed that red-tail I found this one on a rocky perch further down the road. At the time I didn’t realize this bird was a light-eyed adult because in those photos I couldn’t tell for sure if it had a red tail.
But I soon became preoccupied with something other than the color of its tail.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The boulder it was perched on.
Over the years I’ve driven past this unusually shaped rock many hundreds of times but I’d never noticed its distinctive, almost cuboidal shape and crystalline-looking structure when seen from this angle – probably because I’d never photographed a bird perched on it from this angle.
Once I realized how much I liked the shape and size of the boulder I took a chance on missing the takeoff and flight shots by taking some photos vertically that include the entire boulder. I may be alone in this but for me the boulder in this vertical composition is at least as important as the hawk. I like that rock a lot.
Not to say I wouldn’t do something differently if I had a do-over. The boulder isn’t as sharp as I’d prefer. I wish I’d thought to remove my teleconverter or change my aperture, or both, to give me more depth of field. But I didn’t and with birds we almost never get do-overs.
For that reason I envy landscape photographers.
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
When the hawk eventually took off it launched away from me but this shooting angle, combined with its flight posture, confirmed that it was a light-eyed adult, almost certainly the same one I’d be photographing again about 15 minutes later. That red tail is hard to miss.
But in my mind I keep going back to the boulder perch in the second photo and wishing it were sharper. You can bet your shutter finger that in the future I’ll be watching extra carefully for birds perched on it. And paying more attention to my depth of field.
Ron
PS – I hope you’re dealing with the time change better than I am. Based on my track record I’ll be messed up for at least three days.
Rock on, Ron!
I like this Cubism photo. 😀
Ron – Perfect timing for these two posts about this light-eyed red tail hawk!
I was just in Boston for a few days, being a tourist. When we came out of the museum of the US Constitution ship, we saw an armed park ranger and a small crowd gathered around a little porch near the entrance, all watching a hawk eating its breakfast rat. It was a large, gorgeous RT hawk, and seemed quite unconcerned that people were watching it eat. (Maybe that’s a regular dining spot and the armed ranger is its personal bodyguard!) But it was a bit confusing because it had a beautiful adult red tail, yet pale eyes, and I thought adult redtails had dark eyes.
And then I arrived home and opened your 11/1 post, and here’s my hawk, red-tail and light eyes. And more today. Serendipitous! Thank you!
So glad you’ve been able to get out a bit 🙂
Every once in a while I have good timing, Carolyn. Thanks for letting me know about this one. Loved your story.
Gorgeous boulder! And the hawk too! I wouldn’t mind seeing just some boulder shots if you’re around there again. Now that April’s described it as a fist, I can’t un-see that.
This year, I’m more worried about the heavy rain forecasted for election day than I am the time change. 🙁 VOTE!
Thanks, Marty. I’m worried about election day for a lot of reasons.
I can’t let myself even think about it (although those terrors keep intruding into my brain).
The boulder looks like a closed fist with the thumb pointing upward.
Definitely! Good eye!
You’re right, April. It kinda does.
Rocks, Red-tails, Ron, and the R5. What more can one ask for.
Yes, the time change has my brain more muddled than usual. I could have sworn I set my bedside clock back an hour last night, but I woke this morning and though it would be a little bit lighter. Checked my iphone and it showed an hour earlier, at which point I said to hell with it and went back to sleep.
Thanks, Lyle. I still haven’t set my clocks back. Hopefully I’ll get it done by the end of the day.
That is an impressive boulder and a beautiful but dwarf-size hawk! 😉 Love the take-off shot, a wonderful view of the gorgeous red tail.
I’m definitely “draggy” this morning but, quite honestly, I’m not a morning person no matter what time it arrives! 🥱 I *am* looking forward to the arrival of our expected rain tomorrow, hoping it really will last more than a day.
I wish you luck on the rain, Chris. Thankfully we’ve been getting quite a bit of snow on the mountains, where we really need it.
Time changes certainly mess with what is left of my mind.
Love that boulder. And the bird. And the colours of both.
Thans, EC.
The structure of that rock does catch the eye. The RT is the cherry on top. Together they make for a dramatic and artistic composition.
Very nice.
Thank you, Michael.
I must say that rock caught my attention before the hawk. Both together make a great picture.
It takes me a while to adjust to this stinkin time change😡
Finally we have a good dose of rain and snow coming to Northern California this week❗️
Thanks, Diana. We continue to have rain and snow and it’s supposed to be like that for the foreseeable future.
Nice shots Ron. If that Red-tail was perched in front of that rock or on top of the bottom part it would blend in perfectly and most passers by would never see it. Since you recently mentioned dark eye and light eye I am for the first time looking for that.
We here in Arizona never change times and that is something I really appreciate having previously lived in Pennsylvania and California where we always did change.
Thanks, Everett. That’s one thing that Arizona got right.
I’m looking forward to No more shifting back-and-forth between standard and daylight savings time! Hopefully in my lifetime.
Don’t hold your breath, Brett.
Interesting how square the boulder looks! 🙂 Beautiful bird.
I have a strong internal clock and the time changes REALLY mess with me. 🙁 Fall seems to be worse than spring for whatever reason.
Howling wind yesterday – cold on it’s way……..UGH!
“Howling wind yesterday – cold on it’s way.”
Sounds like an Alberta Clipper?
Not exactly – going to be cold with possibly some sub-zero nights all next week. Guess it’s coming out of the Arctic – “may” get some snow Mon. Gust to 69mph in GF…..
Helluva game in Missoula yesterday with heavy snow…… 😉