I’m quickly tiring of snow, cold and even the color white but I still love raptors in snowy or frosty settings.
A few weeks ago I posted a shot of this Rough-legged Hawk with a different pose and crop but I thought some of the other images deserved some exposure too. Fully realizing that today most folks will be more interested in flying prolate spheroids called footballs than they will be in birds that fly I chose Super Bowl Sunday to post these images.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, twig-tip removed behind the bird, not baited, set up or called in
I found this hawk in mid-December at Farmington Bay as it waited for the sun to come up on a bitterly cold morning (below zero F). Literally everything was covered with hoar frost, including the bird.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, twig-tip removed behind the bird, not baited, set up or called in
Typical of birds when it’s very cold, this one was more reluctant to fly than usual so we settled in and watched each other for about 15 minutes. Some of the belly and chest feathers appeared to be frozen stiff so I suspect they were wet when the sun went down the previous evening. I almost froze inside the pickup (engine and heater turned off and two windows down) so I can only imagine how cold this hawk might have been.
Ok, enough of birds for now. I hope you enjoy the big game (if you’re a fan), the food, the camaraderie and the outcome. If not, there’s always next year…
Ron
I feel so sorry for this poor bird. Unlike many, I would much rather look at these images than the Superbowl… 🙂
I love roughies and this one certainly has taken all that cold frost in stride. Great photos. I rehab wild birds and look forward to seeing them arrive here the end of October or first part of November.
Susan
Ironside Bird Rescue,
Cody, WY
I love the 2nd shot Ron. Such a sweet, curious look. I live in the high desert, So. Calif., and I worry about the birds when we get freezing temps here. I see now, I shouldn’t worry at all. Poor Hawk. I bet the Sun felt good, as he thawed out.
The way that the Roughie is looking at you, can’t help but wonder what it is thinking.
Sensational shots Ron!
Charlotte
I love this photo and will put it in next month’s Winged Things – with your approval, of course, and include a link so people can get your photos in their inboxes, too. Poor bird – looks so COLD! and my son informed me of the origin of “Superb Owl” yesterday. What silliness… PS – I’m from Denver, and only watch football when the Broncos are playing. I’m watching today!
Not understanding your national game, I will. henceforth, call it Superb Owl, too.
Ron, these images are incredible! I especially love the cocked head inquisitive look in the second photo. Hoar frost sure makes for some interesting sights.
I may have said this before, but don’t you find it remarkable how nature and natural lighting creates perfect color balance, as seen in these photos? The soft blue sky and golden morning light compliment the orange of the leaves and soft browns of the juvenile Roughie almost perfectly. It’s awe inspiring every time I see an image that captures perfect balance of color and light in nature.
Hi again,I asked about the tripod,was just wondering if you used a window mount, being that you were in your vehicle..thanks gary
Gary, no tripod. I was shooting from my pickup. I gave up on bean bags and window mounts long ago and now I shoot with my “noodle”.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2010/08/19/how-i-photograph-birds-3/
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2011/08/29/a-license-to-bird/
Good morning Ron.. The Rough-legged Hawk is surely a wonderful bird to see. I find they are a very spooky one to get close to..In these photo’s were you using a tripod?? Another day closer to the magic time of Spring…be well gary
Jeez, Ron! That bird ,and the vegetation he’s perched on, look equally as cold,, droopy and depressed…just as I feels these days… Re: the Super Bowl–Don’t any of those opposing hulks, fighting so desperately for possession of that huge, leathery, brown egg, realize it’s all for naught…that egg will NEVER HATCH–(at least none of have so far) so why bother???
Maybe they should try sitting on the football, Patty…
BRILLIANT!!!!
ooh Ron … I adore the one with the head cocked to one side looking straight at us!!!!! Truly, truly fantastic!!!!!!!!!
Thanks very much, Lois.
I don’t think we (humans) realize how tough it is out there. Sitting in a tree through an ice storm or freezing rain or heavy snow. Some of us can empathize, but most of us can’t really appreciate what wildlife go through. And than, pick up and find food. Man, how thankful we should all be!
Great shots, Ron thanks for sharing.
Dick, after a session like this I really appreciate being able to close the windows and crank up the heater!
Ron, I realized some years ago that today is more properly known as Superb Owl Sunday! That puts a better slant on things, doesn’t it? My resident owls all get treats today (pizza with double rats) to celebrate. We have fun! The game is moot for me since the Patriots aren’t in it. Well, I wouldn’t mind if a certain quarterback got his comeuppance today… 🙂
I’m sure the Roughie wasn’t nearly as cold as you were. After all, I doubt your skin insulates well enough not to melt a heavy layer of frost. Love the image with the head cocked to check you out. The bird was probably sympathizing with how that poor human had no feathers of his own to keep him warm!
I’ve liked Superb Owl Sunday for a while now too, Maya. After a series of boring games I got out of the habit and haven’t watched a Super Bowl for over 10 years now. As in State of the Union addresses, I prefer to read about it after the fact than invest the time to watch it live.
You may be right about the hawk sympathizing about my lack of feathers, especially on top of my head…