![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-tailed-hawk-3108-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"red-tailed-hawk-3108-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nSerendipity strikes again.<\/p>\n
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1\/2500, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n I photographed this preening adult red-tail just short of three years ago on a ridge line in Box Elder County. I don’t post many preening photos in part because it’s difficult to see their eyes while they’re grooming and when I can they’re typically half-closed or covered by the nictitating membrane. With this shot I was just lucky.<\/p>\n The photo appeals to me because at this angle we can appreciate the beautiful reds of the adult tail, the hawk is looking in the direction of the lichen covered rock as it disappears out of frame to the right (which I think improves the composition) and I like the graded light intensity that still reveals detail in the dark and shaded left wing – all as the bird is performing an interesting behavior.<\/p>\n I was also lucky to have even found this photo. It was buried deep within my archives from 31 months ago so I didn’t even know it existed until stumbling upon it while searching for something else.<\/p>\n Serendipity strikes again.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An unexpected find.<\/p>\n