Sometimes when I think a hawk is about to take off there’s actually something completely different and unexpected about to happen.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this light morph Swainson’s Hawk three days ago in northern Utah (it’s actually the same bird I posted a few days ago in a diagonal takeoff). It was tame and relaxed as I tried to pass it very close to the road so I stopped and brought out my “baby lens” because it was so close and I thought I might be able to get some takeoff shots. But it just stood there on one leg and watched me watching it.
In these situations I’m always extremely attentive to any subtle hints that suggest the bird might be about to take off or do something else interesting (fast reflexes are essential) and soon I noticed a slight change in its behavior.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 340mm, not baited, set up or called in
It put the other foot down, turned slightly toward me, and seemed to stare intently at something over my right shoulder (actually over the hood of my pickup). I presumed that it had spotted potential prey on the other side of the road behind me and might take off in that direction.
But that isn’t what happened.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 340mm, not baited, set up or called in
Instead of taking off the hawk…
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 330mm, not baited, set up or called in
stayed on the fence post and raised its wings and flared its tail in a defensive posture.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 330mm, not baited, set up or called in
Naturally, when the wings went mostly vertical I cut off one of them and clipped the other.
This all happened so fast I had no idea what had occurred except that the hawk had reacted to something that had threatened it.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 330mm, not baited, set up or called in
And that something turned out to be a male Northern Harrier whose talons came within just a few inches of the perched hawk. I never did actually see the harrier (although Mia did) and this partial foot and a wing tip is all I caught of the harrier in any of my photos.
Here the hawk has mostly closed its nictitating membrane to protect its eye.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 330mm, not baited, set up or called in
It was over in a heartbeat and seconds later the hawk had returned to a relaxed resting stance on one foot as if nothing had happened.
One of my unfortunate photographic tendencies is to jerk my lens slightly when something completely unexpected happens quickly and I did exactly that with this sequence so a couple of these shots are a little softer than the rest.
That’s a bad habit that I consciously try to avoid but it occasionally still bites me in the butt.
Ron
Ron, I like Culley found this post late. What a capture for you and Mia Especially the talons of the NOHA. And the intensity of the reaction of the SWHA, the eye light wonderful. I can almost feel what was happening. Thank you so much. Diana
Sorry to be SO late to this post, but just WOW for all but the one with the wing cut off and missing the Harrier…but life happens, doesn’t it?
A fellow falconer/photographer went out with me in Dallas several years ago and managed to get two shots of that kind of encounter with Mariah and another redtail. They’re pretty spectacular given that Mariah actually raised up off the pole perch, turned vertical, showed the resident bird her talons and then settled back down on her pole. The other redtail just moseyed on along her path. I missed the whole thing since Maggie (the Golden Wondermutt) and I were searching the ground for rabbits. Life happens 😉
You are such a perfectionist Ron, but honestly I never notice if a wing is clipped or something is “off” to you, I notice the great clarity of the bird, the action, the amazing moment. Because that is what it is all about to me, and you capture all that perfectly! Nature is irregular, the moments happen fast, surprises occur, and you catch all that action, who cares if a wing is clipped! Yes, I know, you do. 🙂 But just know I never see that. I see your moment in nature, and that is a gift. Thank you!
You cut me a lot of slack there, Barby. Thanks for that.
The body language in ‘that shot’ is incredible.
Wow, wow and wow.
Again.
Agreed about the body language, EC – and then I had to go and cut off the wings…
I DO understand your pain. However, as a lot of us have said, the body language is STILL there. And on some levels the inadvertent amputations add to the drama. ‘It happened that fast…’
Wow! Talk about a series telling a story from beginning to end! Although, the Sawinson’s doesn’t look quite as relaxed in the last shot as he did in the first.
I’ll bet you can guess my favorite shot, clipped wings and all. If raptors could throw a “whale eye,” this is definitely the equivalent.
I’m impressed that you only jerked your lens a little. I’d have to be buying a new camera (and possibly some new underwear) if I’d witnessed that scene in person.
Marty, Hate to say it but that clipped shot just might be my favorite too. Damn, I wish I’d left more room up there!
Sometimes the imperfect can be the best example of perfection.
Hey, then that’s me. Perfection!
😉
This is a beautiful series. Despite the clipped wings, that shot is my favorite of the bunch. The whole body language expression is very strong in that photo – it’s clear that the Hawk is trying to send a message to the Harrier.
Thank you, Susan.
Wow — now that’s building the tension! Great images, Ron, this Swainson’s is a real photographic delight. (And if you didn’t have that tendency to jerk your lens reflexively to something totally unexpected when you’re so close to the action, I’d kinda wonder about you!) 😁
Chris, I think jerking the lens in situations like that is common among bird photographers. It’s a difficult habit to break.
In spite of the clipped wings, you get a good idea of what was happening…what happened after that? Was the threat over a favorite perch?
Patty, The harrier immediately vamoosed (I never did actually see it except for its foot and wingtip in that one shot.
Harriers will harass any other raptor in their hunting or nesting territory, no matter their size. In my experience they’re more feisty that way toward other birds of prey than any other hawk.
Hence the name???
Exactly! That and the way they hunt prey.
I loved seeing this sequence. Oh!!! I was out for a drive with my husband the other evening. We saw two burrowing owls. I was thrilled.
Arwen, I saw a fair number of Burrowing Owls this morning. No great shots and no chicks though…
I wanted to take a picture but only had my iPhone. We didn’t want to cause them any alarm so we just enjoyed them. My husband was amazed I knew what they were. 😀 I did reveal you were my secret weapon.
Fantastic behavioral shots!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
WOW! A sight to behold for sure – the telephoto lens does limit what one is seeing at any given moment unless, unlike me, the other eye is open! Tensing up is NOT useful, BUT not entirely avoidable either resulting in a jerk. The Harrier’s talons look small compared to the Swainson’s – obviously didn’t matter to the Harrier! 🙂
Judy, I miss a lot of stuff going on around me because I’m so focused through the viewfinder. On the other hand I’m less likely to miss things my subject might do because I’m NOT looking around…