Landing Red-tailed Hawk

We set up camp early enough late yesterday afternoon that we had time for a couple of hours of looking for birds in the general area of the Centennial Valley. There seems to be an abundance of Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels but it appears that many of the Swainson’s Hawks have already headed south. Only a single Ferruginous Hawk was spotted.

 

red-tailed-hawk-3498-ron-dudley

1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500 f4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

I watched as this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk left its power pole perch and pursued prey, which it missed. When it took off from the ground I thought it might return to the same perch so I prefocussed on it and fired off a burst as it prepared to land.

Part of the reason I like the photo is because we don’t see many shots of landing raptors. My first reaction was an extreme dislike for the power pole perch but upon reflection it’s growing on me. I actually think the different colored glass insulators add some interest to the image.

Today will be our first full day of shooting. I wonder what we’ll find…

Ron

 

17 Comments

  1. I prefer images without lines as well but this image is gorgeous! That pole is a railroad pole if anyone was interested in specifics…they are identifiable by the glass-like close-together insulators. They are very low voltage signal lines. Just a note for those who may have an interest.

    • You’re exactly right, Jerry. This line of poles was running parallel to RR tracks and only a few feet away from them. They were also only about half as tall as typical power poles. Thanks for that interesting tidbit – next time I’ll know!

  2. Super shot Ron,l like the insulators to.

    Charlotte

  3. What a stunner. It doesn’t look like an easy landing either. Or perhaps that is my klutzy self talking…

  4. Ron, this shot is tops…here’s why. I’ve only been into photography for 2+ years. Before that, I was into insulator collecting…big time!! Travelled around the country attending shows and conventions…had my own table, the whole 9 yards. But then the photography bug hit (HARD) and I’ve never looked back. While I will still always love insulators, I’ve sold probably 1/3 of my collection…to buy all of my photography gear. 1DX and 500 F/4…all can be traced back to me selling “glass for glass”. So I especially love this photo…

  5. I have a recollection of collectors as well. Interesting shot.
    Good hunting today.

  6. Very Cool Image Ron .

  7. You’re right! I hadn’t been aware of the lack of landing shots, but now that you mention it…
    Of course, I immediately noticed what LOOKS like a missing tail feather. I’m somewhat obsessed with feathers since we’re coming to the end of the molt. Anyway, I HAD to count and found that no, all 12 tail feathers are there. That girl is just holding her tail a little strangely. I’m calling female because the tarsus looks to me like the size of a AA battery. A male’s tarsus looks closer to the size of a pencil. But that’s just a ballpark idea.
    It’s also cool to see the alula feathers at work–those small feathers at the top of the primary wing feathers.
    Wishing you and Mia a GREAT day today and thanks so much for beginning my day with a redtail! Blessings to you guys!

  8. This kind of a yin yang image…nature vs “technology” isn’t it? Once again showing the soft beauty and complexity of the natural element as opposed to the “harder” starkness of the others. It’s an interesting view of the bird and an interesting mixture of textures and colors, between the feathers of the bird, the hardness and reflecting quality of the blue glass , the heat-absorbing weathered wood and the wire.–the stationary and the free-flying. (I have a whole bag of beautiful “stolen” (?) insulators which I got from someone cleaning out their barn). I hope the trip goes well….no glitches!

  9. I also like the insulators in the photo. Maybe because I have a couple that look just like that, but I did not steel them I found them at an old mine site in a debris pile. Gorgeous Red-Tail. I like the way it’s alula feathers show separately from the wing.

  10. The colored insulators are pretty – power companies used to have trouble with collectors stealing them around here! The hawk is gorgeous! Good luck today. 🙂

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