It’s become our tradition to spend New Year’s Day in northern Box Elder County looking for raptors. Just over two weeks ago this adult Red-tail gave me a good look at the entirety of its visible plumage.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Power poles are the scourge of the area I was shooting in (poles, insulators and wires don’t fit well with “nature” photography) so flight shots were my goal. I thought I’d include this image for its feeding behavior, taken just as the back half of the vole was disappearing down the gullet – “vole sliders” I call’em.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As the hawk launched it gave me a good look at its lateral and ventral plumage…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in, wire removed
and then the feathers on the topside in the next two shots.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in, wire removed
I always appreciate a good view of the topside of an adult Red-tail, especially when that beautiful red tail is fanned out and I think the last three images in combination provide a good study of the overall plumage of the hawk.
Ron
Simply beautiful!
As you likely know, we are loaded up here in God’s Country of Montana (the Bitterroot Valley) with Red-tailed Hawks and I am eager to capture amazing images, as you have. Breathtaking indeed. I appreciate my friend, Cheryl Radigan’s bringing your site to my attention. I would look forward to personally meeting you, too, when I come down your way this Spring/Summer. Continue to enjoy God’s creations, hopefully as much as I do!
Awesome shots Ron!
Charlotte
Just beautiful.
What a wonderful start to the bird watching year for you. I really, really hope it is an omen of many good things to come. And I am still smiling at the vole slider too.
Elephant’s Child, One of my significant “starts” to birding was watching a variety of raptor species capturing voles and gophers behind the tractor I was driving on the Montana farm as a teenager (and younger). They’d hover very close to me right behind the plow (usually in the Montana wind) and I was fascinated watching them hunt and dive on prey. My dad always knew when I’d been doing that because my furrow lines in the field would be crooked from not watching where I was going. He was not pleased because that meant I was missing weeds…
What a great looking bird. I love the last image Ron. Well done!
The last image is my favorite too, Bryce. Thanks.
What a superb adult Red-tailed Hawk, Ron! And, as we have all become accustomed to taking for granted, absolutely stunning photography!
Thank you, Wally.
What a beautiful bird. You captured it so well, and I love the “vole sliders”…….
The hawks love those sliders too, Tana!
“Vole sliders”…Yuk! As a painter of wildlife, esp. birds, the detail you capture is priceless information and reference material, as well as incredibly beautiful pictures and informative, interesting comments on behavior. Lois Bryan said it all!
I discovered your website a few months ago and have been following ever since. I thought I was a bird photographer, and then I viewed your images. Outstanding! You helped me realize how much I need to learn. Just about all your photo’s seem to be the best of that particular species that I have seen. I may not be the best photographer on the block, but I have looked at literally thousands of bird photos and you are as good as or better than (and it’s mostly better than) the others. Thank you for sharing your work and inspiring the rest of us. Being a birder I really appreciate the info that you also share. Besides helping me become a better photographer, you are also helping me understand birds and their world. Thank you again and I have to say, these are some of the best red tailed hawk images I have seen.
What a nice comment, Nikonsteve – on several levels. Thanks very much.
Thanks very much, Paul, Sharon, Alison, Lois, Bill and Gail. I appreciate you comments!
Beautiful shots, Ron! I always love your images and the accompanying information.
Extremely interesting and entertaining at the same time….. Thanks!
Mother nature is magnificent … and your camera skills are as well!!!! WOW!!!
Wonderful – thanks! A joy to all (except the mouse).
Beautiful! I really appreciate seeing the views of the plumage.
An awesome series Ron, and a very rich study of its plumage. Thanks for sharing these.