This is the time of year I start to get antsy about the return of the Rough-legged Hawks. Several years ago I read on Birds of North America Online that by the end of September most of them have left their breeding grounds in northern Canada and Alaska and are headed our way for the winter. That bit of bird trivia stuck with me so the end of this month always triggers thoughts of their return. In anticipation I reviewed some of my favorite photos of them last night.
I enjoyed that trip down memory lane so I thought some of my readers might also. Over the years I’ve posted each of these images on Feathered Photography so long-time readers may have already seen some, most or even all of them.
Some of the photos aren’t great technically but there’s something special (for me at least) about each one and I’ll explain what it is.
This hawk was kiting in the wind while hunting when it lifted its head in an effort to look over the raised road behind me. Doing so contorted its body profile into a modified “S” shape that I don’t remember ever seeing in a raptor in flight. This bird makes me smile every time I see the image.
This shot was obviously taken in low light. With the bird banking in flight the spread wings and flared tail provide a wonderful look at the dorsal feather colors and patterns which make the bird stand out against a very similarly colored background.
Takeoff shots are a piece of cake compared to landing photos. I won’t go into all the details as to why but suffice it to say that I probably have several thousand raptor takeoff shots and only a handful of landing photos. I’m not fond of this soon-to-be perch but I was still delighted to catch a raptor during the landing process.
I like this shot for a lot of reasons related to behavior and unusual elements in the photo. Right in the middle of parallaxing me by rotating ‘his’ head (I think the young bird was intrigued by the sound of my shutter) he succumbed to an irresistible urge to yawn. I’ve photographed many owls and some buteos during parallax but this was the first and only time one of them combined it with a yawn.
That’s bison fur on top of the post – two clumps of it. I’ll bet there aren’t many photos out there of hawks with bison fur on the perch. It was a very cold morning so the fur was covered with frost.
Here’s the same hawk in a different pose. I’m including this shot to allow him more dignity than he exhibited in the previous photo.
I believe this was the only time I’ve ever photographed a hawk of any species actually eating in flight (though I do have some of an eagle eating a fish in flight). Usually they carry prey in their talons but this bird had just transferred the vole from talons to beak and immediately after this shot was taken it swallowed the rodent.
And something else unusual – the vole is a “pinkie” (or just barely past that stage), a baby vole that was apparently somehow robbed from the nest. This was also the first time I’d seen a raptor with a baby rodent so this image is a ‘twofer’ of sorts.
This is the only time I’ve photographed a Rough-legged Hawk on prey as large as this rabbit. Nearly always I see them with small rodent prey. The image is a little graphic but not so much that I don’t appreciate the stark reality of the behavior.
One of my favorite photos of any raptor. This RLH was obviously preening its tail feathers by re-zipping the hooks between the barbules. It had already worked on the feathers closest to the one in its beak and you can see that they’re now in better shape than the rest of them.
I have other versions of this image with a looser crop (aesthetically this one’s pretty tight) but I appreciate the better detail and more intimate look at the behavior the tighter crop provides.
Sometimes in the winter we’re almost awash in Rough-legged Hawks here in northern Utah but last year they were pretty scarce. I hope that’s not the case again this winter.
Ron
OK. I don’t check my emails often, so am late on this, but RLH’s are my favorite and I love all of these photos! Like you, I hope they are more plentiful this winter.
Late to the party, Ron- it was a long weekend of birding with little cell service- and when I saw the title of your post I knew I had to wait to enjoy it on a bigger screen. Worth the wait! What a stunning series! I remember most of these fondly, like old friends I haven’t seen in awhile. Thanks again- db
Thanks for sharing this wonderful series. Can’t decide which one I like best – they are all beautiful and unique! luxurious looking raptors .
Sensational series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Absolutely stunning images, Ron, especially the first and last.
Thanks, Judy.
Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my.
A truly spectacular start to my day.
Thank you, EC.
Beautiful photos, never unhappy with reposts!
Thanks, April.
From first to last, all truly wonderful photos of a gorgeous hawk, love to see them all together like this! Its “pantaloons” look more like fur than feathers in that landing shot. I took a look at your link back to the dark morphs, and see their appeal, but have to say I’m still particularly fond of these “light” colored birds in your images. The one with the rabbit is especially beautiful (not the rabbit part, the bird itself), the eyes really grab me. As Dave said, it’s too bad they don’t travel a little further south and west to enjoy the coast in the wintertime! 😎
Chris, If I lived in a place that didn’t have roughies in the winter I’d probably miss them as much as I do the mountains when I go to places like Florida.
Spectacular, Ron!! A beautiful Rapture & plenty of behavioral captures!! I think they are all special but I have 2 favorites – the 1st one with the “S curve” wings & the capture of the yawn. I laughed with that one & wondered if he was thinking – “How many more photos are you taking – I’ve got things to do!! Just LOVE it!!
I sure took a lot of photos of that bird, Jo Ann. And if I hadn’t had to leave it to meet a good friend for lunch I’d probably have taken a lot more. So you may be right about what “he was thinking”.
What a collection, Ron. Thanks for sharing the results of your skill, experience, perseverance, and a little bit of luck as you would say.
You’re very welcome, Lyle.
I was just admiring my Rough Legged print that I won and then I looked to see what you had for us today❗️Perfect timing. These beautiful pictures just made my day 😁
Have a great Sunday
Good! Thanks, Diana.
Easy to see why these are favorites…love the first…
Easy to see why these are favoirites……
I’m glad you like them, Patty.
First time I ever saw a roughie I was smitten with the bird’s grace in motion, its coloration, its apparent concentrated intensity. Around here we have the darker color phase. Contrast between creamy breast and dark back is beautiful. These behavior shots are good information adding to my understanding of this creature. Thanks.
Thank you, Martha.
Thanks, Ron! Beautiful images of a beautiful species! I feel the same way as you do about roughies, and always view their return as the beginning of hawk watching “season” in the Klamath Basin. So much so that I went to the Basin yesterday specifically to see if I could conjure one or two to appear. My conjuring abilities failed me – still too early. But, since I had roughies on my mind yesterday as well as this morning, maybe I conjured up your post…?😀
Cheers,
Dick
“roughies on my mind”
Sounds like song lyrics for birders, Dick! If you did I’m glad your conjuring worked…
Love them all, Ron. Here in Northern CA we are also waiting for their arrival. Plus Merlins and Prairie Falcons. Just said good-bye to the last Swainson’s. And this year’s juvie Red-tails are on the prowl. We count the days in raptors.
“We count the days in raptors”
I like that, Sallie. We have Prairie Falcons here pretty much year around.
I think those are lovely and cute pictures you have. Thanks again for your posts. Hope you will see more of the hawks this winter.
Thank you, Trudy.
I really REALLY enjoyed this collection—and for such a variety of reasons….the painter in me responded immediately to the shot with the rabbit, thinking “that splash of crimson
absolutely MAKES that image, visually “, before I realized what it actually was…….so it was “graphic” in the original, legitimate use of the term………
“that splash of crimson absolutely MAKES that image, visually”
I thought the same thing exactly, Kris. Thank you.
Ron, that first one is stunning, but all of them are worthy to be in Nat Geo, AZ Highways, etc. I have never seen a Rough-legged Hawk – very good looking bird. And the last one too with him preening his feathers is outstanding. Glad you shared these with us.
Everett Sanborn
Prescott AZ
You’re pretty close to the southern limits of their winter range, Everett. I’m sure that explains it. Thanks very much.
I can see why you like all of these shots. They all had me smiling. I especially love the one with the yawn and parallaxing. The RLH is one we don’t see around here (that I know of), so I’m glad you post photos of this magnificent bird. I am hoping with you that they are abundant this winter.
Their range map shows they don’t migrate as far as the southern part of your state, Susan. Fingers are crossed for abundance…
Gorgeous shots all! 🙂 Once again I note they seem to start at the neck for eating – have their reasons I’m sure…. Of course, the first photo is “priceless” and the “yawn” is fun also. Hope you have MANY this year……:)
Thank you, Judy. I hope so too. I was pretty discouraged last year.
Hi Ron
I remember the preening photo. So amazing it appears he/she gets every hook just right. Thanks for letting us revisit these photos. Diana
That bird worked over its tail feathers for a long time, Diana. I got many photos but that’s one of my favorites.
❤️ Totally in love with these photos! I could never choose a ‘best’ one all are outstanding! My only wish with the Rough-legged is that there would be a higher percentage of ‘dark morphs’…photos of those are treasures! Next to the ShortEars, these are my favorite raptor. I too am waiting for their return…I make my drive to the marsh every other day hoping… Fortunately for me only 20 minutes away. Lucky for me they plus the Northern Harriers frequent the same marsh area so I am able to photograph all in the same vicinity and am rarely skunked from a photo when they are back.
Kathy, I almost included a photo of a dark morph in the snow but the bird wasn’t particularly close so I didn’t.
Love to see that posted somedsy…
Kathy, the one I was thinking of is the second shot in this post.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2013/12/09/dark-morph-rough-legged-hawk/
A beauty! I just love both of those photos. Thank you for posting the site…I appreciate the time you took. To me the RoughLegged have a look of ‘naiveté’…almost innocence about their face…that’s probably far-fetching but they are so beautiful. The second one resembles the one in the photo I sent to you in Jan/Feb for help with ID…it was the first dark morph I ever found. Thank you again!
I absolutely LOVE this series. The first is my favourite (by a small margin only)- such grace! You have captured so many aspects of its behaviour – gritty and adorable! Thank you!!!
I think that flight posture in the first shot is exceptional, Donna. Thank you.
Wow, wow and wow! And wow some more. The first shot really shows off its Eyes, Big, and they look like they are Seeing Everything. Thanks also for the rabbit and the extra tight crop of the preening.
All of these shots are super fantastic. Wish we had more roughies out here on the edge of the pacific ocean, guess I’ll have to aim for travels over your way!
Cheers
Check with locals before you come, Dave. If we don’t get more RLH’s this winter than we had last year it would likely be a wasted trip. Thanks.
Wonderful shots Ron, Love em all! I can’t wait either for these guys to show up.
Thank you, Dick.