And Swainson’s Hawks weren’t my only first of year birds yesterday. I had two others. So it was a banner day for me, even though most of my photos were only of documentary quality and one of them bordered on atrocious because it was soft and the bird was far away. But that photo is plenty good enough for positive ID.
8:24 AM: When I first spotted this hawk on a utility pole in front of me in Utah’s west desert I assumed it was a Red-tailed Hawk but as I drove slowly forward I began to suspect it was my FOY Swainson’s Hawk. It turned out that my suspicion was correct.
As I was approaching the bird, what surprised me even more was that it appeared to be a female in solicitation posture (with her head down and her body held horizontally) but there was no male in sight. I’ve seen mating behavior in Swainson’s Hawks and other buteos many times so I recognize solicitation posture when I see it. But where was the male, her presumed mate? She had to be soliciting someone and it certainly wasn’t me.
By the time I got my pickup stopped and my lens on her she was standing more erect, as we see here. She never did look back at me, not once, which was unusual. She was concentrating on something other than me.
Suddenly the reason for her solicitation posture became clear. A male, her presumed mate, appeared in the upper left corner of the frame and landed next to her. I figured they were about to mate, which was obviously her intention.
But it didn’t happen. The male, who may have been distracted by my pickup, showed no interest in mounting her so eventually she flew off to my right. Which left me disappointed to have missed the mating but delighted to have seen and photographed my FOY Swainson’s Hawks.
Six minutes later and a couple of miles down the road I found another Swainson’s Hawk with its back to me and on the wrong side of the road for good light.
32 minutes after that I found a fourth Swainson’s Hawk, a dark morph I believe, perched in a faraway tree. I may have seen two others from a distance but they were too far away for a positive ID.
I must have found a pocket of migrating Swainson’s Hawks but I believe those first two hawks are now resident in the area and based on their behavior, intending to nest in a clump of trees on the other side of the road.
Swainson’s Hawks weren’t my only FOY birds yesterday morning.
8:37 AM: I spotted a faraway Turkey Vulture circling in the morning updrafts. Shooting out my window, the vulture was at a difficult angle for me so my photos were soft but this one is good enough for positive ID. It’s my FOY Turkey Vulture and the only one I saw all morning.
8:54 AM: I also photographed my FOY Willets. These two were noisily flying in circles and displaying as they landed. I’ve been hearing Willets on Antelope Island for a about a week now but these two were the first ones I’ve actually seen this year.
Three FOY bird species in exactly 30 minutes. For me that’s a new record. To quote Andy Williams, who was referring to a different season, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”.
You’re welcome for the earworm.
Ron
Ohhh. I’ve got to get out birding! Thanks for all of your posts.
Sensational series Ron!
Even later than EC. 😉 What an “embarrassment of riches” day! Fantastic! I’m always happy to see a TV. ❤️
I was delighted to see the vulture, Marty. And surprised.
Late to the party today but smiling (broadly) with and for you.
Thank you, EC.
A day like that makes up for the ones you got skunked or just not much luck! 🙂 LUV the male Swainsons landing shot and the Willits.
Thanks, Judy. For much of this winter, getting skunked was a regular occurrence so yesterday was a welcome change.
Wonderful photos. I love the willets with raised wings. I saw a big group of willets at BRMBR but not close by. I have a far away flock flying shot but again not good photos. There is also a nest building couple of Swanson’s in the area. They were very wet a bedraggled looking after the previous day’s heavy rain followed by a sunrise of fog.
April, maybe we’ll have a good year with Swainson’s this year. I didn’t see many last year.
I think they were all in Idaho. I don’t know if there are usually so many there but It was amazing to me to see dozens nesting in every large tree around and in the city of Fairview Idaho.
Thirty minutes of non-stop avian delights! That is something to celebrate. The willets are my fav of the day. 😀
Thanks, Kathleen. 30 minutes of surprises and fun.
Happy spring, indeed ! I really admired the shot of the willets
with their wings upraised–don’t think I’ve seen those underwing
markings before–strikingly handsome !
Kris, if ever there was a transformative bird it’s the Willet. They’re drab and inconspicuous, until they raise their wings.
Love the Willets shot with the upraised wings. Swaninson’s are popping up all over here. Have seen many references to them being sighted. Good time of the year for sure.
“Good time of the year for sure.”
The best time of year if you ask me, Everett. Things should be popping for the next three months or so.
Congrats on the FOYs! Thank you for sharing.
Like that second one. I know you are not fond of photos that include human made objects, but I really like how you got that male with the wings wide open. Likewise with the Willets.
Thanks, Michael. I like that male’s landing posture too. A lot.
What a great way to start a day! Hope it continues to be special.
Thanks, Burrdoo.