It’s been a while since I posted a Red-tailed Hawk series.
Yesterday I spent a delightful morning in the west desert. Light was perfect, temps were moderate, there was no wind, birds were beginning to migrate and some of them were even cooperative.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
However, I wouldn’t quite call this particular adult Red-tailed Hawk “cooperative”.
The first time I spotted ‘him’ he was close to the dirt road in front of me but he took off as I got closer and I figured he was gone for good. Then, as I crested a small hill, there he was – perched close to the road again. But he took off once more and this time I saw him land on a rocky outcrop in front of me but further from the road.
This time he was far enough away from the road to allow me to pull up parallel to him and take a few shots of him perched. When he roused, as he’s doing here (thus the flying feather), I figured he was about to take off.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I was right.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Given his elevated perch, he took off more vertically (and stayed stiff-legged longer) than I expected him to.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But I still managed to…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
keep him in frame for four shots before I started clipping body parts. I’m not including the nine photos after this one because of clipped wings and/or a soft bird.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But then I was able to get him in focus again. Here he’s about to drop down behind…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
some more high rocks, so this is the last shot I’m including of the series. After this he dropped down behind the rocks at bottom and disappeared in the small valley between those rocks and the mountainside in the background. The last two photos are very similar but they’re my favorites of the series.
Yes, I wish I’d been closer. If I had been, image quality would have been better. But I was pleased to get a red-tail in a natural setting in my viewfinder again, even though he never did show me the beautiful red top of his tail.
Ron
Beautiful series!
Pantaloons! And a very handsome fellow. I think the 3rd shot is so interesting with the curved primaries and the toes all splayed out. So glad you two finally got to “dance.”
Thanks, Marty. I chose #3 as my featured photo on Facebook.
How I wish Laura could see these.
I was just thinking the exact same thing, EC. I miss her.
I think that many of us do.
EC, I actually thought of Laura when I was composing this post.
Sensational series!!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Wow, cool series. I especially like the different views of the feet. Mostly outstretched and then, in the last one, clenched in little bird “fists.” Thanks, Ron!
Glad you enjoyed them, Ellen. Thanks.
Nice shots Ron. I like 3,4, and 5 showing those talons always ready to grab. We have your wind here. I have been waiting day after day to clean up all the leaves etc, but everyday brings more. We have had a strange absence of Red-tails and hawks in general throughout the summer. It has been very hot, but possibly too a general absence of game. Hopefully they will be back soon.
Thanks, Everett. Our wind blew a couple of shingles off my roof. I’ve got to get that fixed, pronto.
Beautiful! – hawks of various sorts are on the move here – saw about a dozen on the way to town yesterday on power poles and in the fields. Hope they’re headed your way……. 🙂
“Hope they’re headed your way.”
At least some of them probably are, Judy. There were a lot more red-tails in that area yesterday than there has been all summer.
P.S. 3 Kestrels – female or immature – cruising the yard this morning.
Jealous!
Those last two are really good, in particular the second to last in that the right wing is more evident and the brick-colored tail comes through a bit more.
I am also in agreement with Kris. Very much like that shot as well.
Hear the Sierras above 8,000′ will get about 4 feet of snow from that storm.
They’re saying we may get significant rain out of it. Don’t know if I’m prepared for that much gloomy weather. Thanks, Michael.
Wonderful photos Ron. Enjoyed them immensely! Thank you!
Good. Thanks, Mark.
What a handsome bird ! I especially liked shot #2, with his body
all stretched out and pushing off hard– the power of his whole
body is clear to see. I’m glad you had such a totally favorable
day for your work– the weather forecast for today sounds “iffy”,
at least down here to the south–it’s starting to feel like autumn,
and the leaves sound brittle when the wind stirs them……
Thanks, Kris. The forecast here for the entire upcoming week looks “iffy” at best. Sounds like we’re right on the edge of the big storm starting to hit CA and the northwest.