A short post today. After everything involved with yesterday’s marathon post I’m plumb tuckered out. Even though I enjoy the creative process it takes a lot out of me. Besides, blog followers probably need a break from reading as much as I do from writing and processing images.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
In November of 2011 I spent a good long time with the most cooperative Rough-legged Hawk I’ve ever photographed. It posed and preened in good light as if it was a professional model trying to make a name for itself in the fashion world. Many of my photos were similar and I’ve posted several of them in the past but this is one of my two favorites out of hundreds. I featured this photo on my blog three years ago but I wanted to process the image differently so I decided to post it again.
As you can see the ends of its tail feathers are kind of ratty-looking but they’re still in good shape. All they needed was to have the hooks between the individual feather barbs “re-zipped”. When the hawk was finished preening it had a snazzy-looking tail once again.
I wish that was all it took for me to look presentable.
Ron
I agree with everyone who loves this Roughie, your model! Wonderful images!
Thank you, Dick.
Feel free to take a break, Ron! I love seeing this Roughie. I can imagine how much fun it was to see him preening in person.
It could happen sometime, Marty. Not just yet though.
I remember seeing this photo, or one very much like it. It’s good to see it again–it’s stunning 🙂 I can watch raptors preen for hours–or bathe, or fly or just about everything they do. Yes, I AM easily amused. What of it? LOL!
There were several that were similar to it, Laura. It could have been one of them, or this one. Either way, thank you.
Yet another things birds do MUCH better than I do.
Love this photo and am awed by its dexterity and skill.
And as a PS, I doubt that any of your readers needed a break after yesterday’s post.
Thank you, EC. Maybe it was just me.
Ron, I think that this is a prize-winning photo. I would think that it is a rare occurrence to witness something like this pose. The lighter colors coming down from the head onto the neck look like a scarf draped over the head. Just my imagination … out of control! Thank you, Ron
Thanks, Alice. It wins my personal prize and that’s the main thing for me.
One of my favorite photos. I hope you are out capturing more lovely photos this morning. The air should be nice after the rainstorm. I am staying in, my memory cards and external drive are full, I have put off deleting all summer so today I am paying the price of procrastination. I started yesterday with the overcast day but it did not happen…….
Yup, we were out shooting when your comment came in this morning, April. Found a few interesting birds too.
I hate to admit it but I’m way behind on culling also. Too behind to ever catch up so one day soon it will bite me in the butt…
Talk about culling, let me give you a cautionary tale. I’ve been unpacking boxes that have been packed/stored for about 15 years and came across a treasure trove of photos. Among others were photos/prints of my first encounter with falconry at the Texas Renaissance Festival in about 1985 and another, even more precious little bound book of black-and-white photos of my dad’s family and me when I was roughly five years old. The booklet (remember how they used to do those things in the 1950s?) had photos of my paternal grandmother. I don’t have any of her, few of my father, even fewer of his brothers and sisters. Anyway, I had a cull pile and a keep pile. Somehow, the piles got mixes. Evidently I got distracted and I threw away what was supposed to be the cull file. About an hour after the garbage truck collected the garbage, I realized those precious photos had been mistakenly pitched. Now I have a pile of negatives (remember those?) so theoretically, the Texas Renaissance photos could be recovered, but the other, more precious photos? They’re gone forever. Stupid, stupid mistake!!
Dang, that’s a real heartbreaker, Laura. So sorry.
Oh no, Laura! That’s one of my big fears — accidentally throwing away something really important (and I’ve done it a few times). I’m so sorry.
Marty, I’m just sick about it. Such a loss. DARGH!
Oh Laura. Add me to the list of people mourning with you.
Wonderful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
I’m not inclined to things religious but this image has a divine, transcendent quality. Just beautiful.
I see what you mean, Lyle. I have the same (non) inclination…
I’m ready for my close-up❗️ Picture perfect.
I honestly could have read much more of yesterday’s post. I truly did enjoy it and so did my husband. He finally got meet Ron who I’m always showing him your pictures 😁
Have a good day
Your comment made me feel good, Diana. Thanks for that.
“I’m plumb tuckered out.” A phrase that most Millenials have never heard. Brings back childhood memories of my grandfather saying that, or I can hear Gabby Hayes saying to Roy Rogers in my old Saturday morning westerns, “Well Roy, I’m just plumb tuckered out.” But this does beg a question. Do you ever shut down the blog and take some time off? I have only been a follower for maybe two years and I don’t remember you taking time off? Neat photo. Really like the look in his eye and the way those feathers are splayed out.
Gabby Hayes, now there’s an old memory, Everett. Made me think of Andy Devine – remember him?
Nope, so far I’ve never shut it down to take a rest. I believe I’ve only missed about a half dozen days in the last 8 or 9 years and they were mostly when daughter Shannon had her accident or when I was camping and didn’t have internet access.
Depending on which TV channels they get, a whole new generation can have fun with Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Sgt. Prescott, and the like. 🙂
That is a beautiful photo.
Thanks, Jean.
Fun! 🙂 Always amazing the contortions they can get into to take care of needed grooming or whatever else needs doing at the moment….. Beautiful hawk that obviously didn’t give a hoot if you were there or not! 😉
It sure didn’t care, Judy. It’s funny how some roughies are so incredibly shy and others are the exact opposite. Hope you’re feeling better this morning – the “5 days” of vertigo should be about up…
Things improving tho back giving me grief having to “be careful” 😉 Tomorrow will be the 5th day…………NEVER want to do this again! ;(
At least you’re going in the right direction with the vertigo.
Love, love, love this bird! This photo is near perfection in all aspects…from the pose, the colors of the bird and the background. ❤️ For some reason I can not explain, I think these birds have a gentle look about them. By far my favorite raptor, this species totally changed my feelings about raptors. We seem to have an abundance of the light morphs that spend their season around here but every once in a while I get photos of a dark one. 😍 Anxiouly waiting their return.
Light morphs are most common by far but those dark morphs are pretty spectacular. I agree about the “gentle look”. For me I think it’s partly because of their shorter, less menacing bill and their more rounded “forehead”. Thank you, Kathy.
Beautiful photo and bird! Thanks.
Thank you, Joanne.
I like this shot. I’ve seen parrots do it but not a raptor. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen.