Diurnal Raptors – Page 28 – Feathered Photography

The Patented Twist And Dive On Prey Of The Northern Harrier

I see this maneuver from Northern Harriers often and every time I’m awed by it.

Male American Kestrels On Rabbitbrush

This first photo shows the result of a “plop” landing in the snow. The second shot isn’t much more dignified.

Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk Takeoff And Flight Series

The dark color morph of the Ferruginous Hawk is unusual, significantly less than 10% of the population in North America. Since Ferruginous Hawks of any color are uncommon (Sibley calls them “rare”), the dark morph is a very narrow slice of that uncommon group and Ferruginous Hawks in general are such regal and impressive hawks I’ve been enamored of this bird ever since I found “him” a couple of weeks ago.

Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk Taking Off

Two days ago I found the dark morph ferrug for the 3rd time in the last 9 days.

Rough-legged Hawk Takeoff And Flight Series

As a bird photographer I’m usually cussing the wind but yesterday morning I was grateful for a stiff breeze.

Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk – A Triumph And Then An Epic Failure

This is the same hawk I photographed in flight from far away a week ago but I found him again yesterday morning and this time he was close. And he’s a dark morph by golly!

A Ferruginous Hawk And A Red-tailed Hawk With Unusual Plumages

Two raptors that caught my eye recently because of their out of the ordinary plumages.

Northern Harrier In Flight Against A Softly Layered Background

Particularly with birds in flight our backgrounds can have a major impact on our images, one way or the other.

Red-tailed Hawk Perched, Taking Off And In Flight

Raptors have several behavioral quirks that bird photographers who lust after takeoff and flight shots should be very familiar with because they signal imminent takeoff. Yesterday morning near Farmington Bay WMA this immature Red-tailed Hawk knew all the choreographed moves and performed most of them on cue.