A wild hawk on wild prey in a natural setting so I like the primeval mood of the photo.
A fairly short post today. My chronic bad back is acting up with resulting nerve pain in my back, hips and legs so sitting at my computer is problematic.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
Four years ago next month I found this young Rough-legged Hawk feeding on a rabbit in a remote area of Box Elder County. The rabbit was within about 10′ feet of the road so I’ve always wondered if it had been killed by the hawk or a vehicle. The rabbit is pretty big prey for this species but they’re known to take them. However they’re also known to feed on carrion, especially in winter, so either scenario seems plausible.
I’ve posted a couple of other photos of this bird in the past but this one is new to my blog.
Ron
PS – Yesterday Martin Muller, co-author of the Pied-billed Grebe account in Cornell’s Birds of the World, posted a lengthy comment in yesterday’s blog post about the Pied-billed Grebe “mystery behavior” that was the subject of the post. Martin’s comment was posted late in the day so I suspect few viewers saw it. There was a lot of interest from viewers in the purpose of that behavior so I’m providing a link below for those who may want to see his comment and potentially clear up the mystery.
Here’s the link.
A bounty of great info in your post today—but not good that your back pain has returned. As a fellow chronic sufferer, you have my sympathy—and a recommendation for epidural/ablation, which together have “cured” me for the last year.
While blood is not my fav thing, I do appreciate the beauty of this photo & the fact it meant food for that knock-out Roughie, however s/he came by it.
Thanks for link to Martin’s explanation of the grebes’ behavior, and also enjoyed listening to the Birdnote recording of his experience w/ injured male. Always good stuff from you and your readers!
Thanks, Chris. My readers often provide more “good stuff” around here than I do.
So VERY sorry to hear about your back! This chronic pain thing is the pits, and having just added back pain to my list, I can tell you that it’s teetering on the top of the worst!! But you know that!
Although I’m nowhere near an expert on roughies (or anything else for that matter), the information I have is that they rarely catch rabbits. That’s what the experts say anyway. HOWEVER, Mariah (female redtail hawk) taught me years ago that it’s unwise to ever say they can’t do something. If the opportunity presents itself, WHAMMO! If they’ve stumbled into success previously, ANYTHING can happen. Raptors just rock!
Hope your pain subsides immediately if not sooner!
Thanks, Laura. I hope yours does too, especially since your pain comes from multiple sources.
What a gorgeous Roughie! He’s definitely got his eye on you — must be guarding his breakfast (poor bun-bun). As others have remarked, this is one hell of a stunning photograph, Ron!
Hope your back is on the mend soon. 💗 I’m finally starting to see the other side of my back going out last month, so I have some empathy even though comparing my back to yours is like comparing a paper cut to major surgery.
Marty, properly functioning backs are easy to take for granted until they start giving us problems. I’d give anything for my 20 year old back again…
I remember these rough-legged hawk photos, they are some of my favorite. The hawks colors are beautiful. I would like to get up to the area where you took the photo now there is snow.
Thanks for adding and bringing my attention to the grebe behavior comment by Martin Muller.
Sorry to hear the back is bothering you again. I seldom have back pain but after sitting for 3 hours in a twisted and very cold position photographing birds one day my back and neck were painfully and stiff for a few days after.
Glad you got your vaccination appointment. Jon has his appointment for Tuesday but my parents in Davis County don’t have theirs till the end of February. I have a feeling I will be way down the line to April maybe even May, they will have to start giving the second dose to the first vaccinated and I think that will slow down later age groups.
April, one thing I worry a little about is them not having the second dose available within the required time. The way this entire vaccination process has gone up to this point nothing would surprise me.
The officials have now said there is a safe period of 6 months in which to get the second dose. Better sooner but I guess better than never.
I am so sorry to hear that your back is again giving you grief and hope it subsides quickly.
I did see Martin’s comment yesterday and it exemplifies part of the reason I come back here every day. I am endlessly grateful to you and the community you have encouraged/built up here.
And this image is yet another stunner.
Thanks very much, EC.
Ron, this photo is beautiful! The colors of the hawk, rabbit and surrounding scene are so pleasing and perfectly offset by the brilliant red, all while conveying a universal story. I marvel at many (most!) of your photos yet this one stands out to me as a timeless work of art. Thanks for digging back into your files to share it!
Much appreciated, Julie. Both this photo and the experience I had with the hawk are pretty special to me. I still think of this bird every time I drive by this spot on the remote road.
Absolutely stunning image (as always). Great to see the kill as well, just to add some “realism” to the image (far too many sanitised images online).
Thanks, Ashley. I’m happy to say that sanitized images is one thing you won’t find on Feathered Photography. I’ll sometimes refrain from posting gory images but I won’t sanitize them.
I have to agree with Wally Jones on this photo. A museum quality image.
I think it speaks to the quality of Feathered Photography that a contributing author to Birds of the World would comment.
A birdnote link you and others may find interesting:
https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/pied-billed-grebes-martin-muller
Lyle, thanks for the kind words and for the link. It was good to hear Martin’s voice and he certainly described a Pied-billed Grebe incident that was fascinating.
Another very informative article. While it is difficult to confirm whether the hare was killed by a raptor or a vehicle, it remains certain that raptors are capable of many astonishing behaviors. I have already discovered a Saw-whet Owl sitting on a dead rat about fifteen feet above the ground. The first question was “how can such a small bird kill a rodent almost as big as itself?” The second question was “how did he manage to bring this rat to this branch?” Your photo is fascinating and it is part of the category of those that I would have liked to have taken. Congrats, Ron!
Laval, I once photographed a Northern Pygmy Owl high in a tree with prey that was large relative to the tiny owl and I wondered the same thing you did. Thank you.
For me, this is about as close to a “perfect” photograph as one could come!
The “canvas” provided by the blanket of snow, the framing of the bird/prey by the two shrubs, the relatively low angle of your shot and, best of all, the absolute “wildness” of the image!
Simply sublime, Ron!
Excellent response from Martin regarding the grebe behavior. Like you, now I’m going to try harder to separate the sexes, not to mention I’ll be watching for “comfort movements”!
You are in our thoughts today as we hope your pain subsides.
Take care.
Thanks very much, Wally.
Even with Martin’s excellent input I don’t think it’s going to be easy to sex them.
As a fellow back pain sufferer, I feel for you Ron. Getting in a pool usually helps for me- takes some pressure off the bulging disc. Lovely Roughie! And big thanks for the follow-up on the interesting behavior of the Peanut-Butter Grebe! 😁
Diane, my PT guy tried to get me into the swimming routine but I balked. I did the other PT he suggested but that pool routine just seemed like too much trouble and too time consuming. Possibly a mistake on my part.
I really admire this photo, right down to th splash of red–provides
not only a strong color accent, but a strong REALITY accent…..
got my shot down here in Iron County yesterday– really well organized,
finally—here’s hoping for improvement for your back, and good follow-
through for your shot.
“not only a strong color accent, but a strong REALITY accent’
Good point, Kris. Thanks.
Beautiful photo – I wondered about the size of the rabbit – whatever it takes, I’m sure! Will have to check out the link and Martin’s comments…..
DAMN! on the back (again/still).😞 Glad you got your vaccination appt. We’re on a “list” in Chouteau Co. – sure better than the “cluster” in Cascade Co. where over 70’s are supposed to get on the net AND have an email add. PLUS no consideration other than “over 70” 😖 1500 slots went is less than 15 min. for round one – “really?”
Thanks, Judy.
Salt Lake County’s registration website is a piece of shit – it was obviously designed by an idiot. For the first round of appointments it was close to nonfunctional and most qualified folks couldn’t get an appointment, including me. They apologized for their ineptitude but 3 weeks later when they got some more vaccines and we could try to register again their website STILL had problems. I was very lucky to get my appointment.
Beautiful photo of the hawk and the rabbit looks huge spread out like that. Ready yesterday’s input from Martin Muller and found his contribution very interesting. I never would have thought about the contagious behavior, but seeing that I immediately think of seeing that so often with geese.
Take good care of that back. I have never had back problems, but have many friends my age who have struggled with that for years. I was out shoveling the driveway last night and can feel a little tightness there. We really got a significant amount of snow that is going to take care of our dry creeks and almost dry lakes once the big melt gets going.
Thank you, Everett. Count your blessings regarding a healthy back and plenty of snow. We’ve finally had some snow around here but not nearly enough considering how late in the season it is.
A pristine winter scene. That little bit of gore …life in the wild. Those are the little elements that change the perspective of the photo. I have a similar post, rabbit included taken in the marsh. It looks like it could be superimposed right on this. Interesting reading the addition to your post from Martin…good to learn. Hope your back quiets down…it makes for long days…and nights. I get the first of my covid vaccines this afternoon…glad to get started even though it looks as if life will continue on as is for quite some time with masks and distancing but maybe with a little less stress. Can’t help but wonder will we ever feel comfortable with someone else entering our personal space…
“Can’t help but wonder will we ever feel comfortable with someone else entering our personal space”
I’ve thought about that too, Kathy. Every time I see a photo of groups of maskless people hanging out together I think “what the hell are they doing” and then realize many of those photos were taken pre-pandemic.
I have an appointment for my first Covid vaccine this coming Saturday. I was very lucky to get that appointment.
Terrific shot Ron. Beauty meets realism in the natural world. Thanks for mentioning Martin’s response to yesterday’s post. It was interesting to read.
Sorry to read about your back. I hope you get some relief soon.
Thanks on both counts, Mark. I thought it was thoughtful of Martin to make the comment.
I’m trying to put off medical intervention for my back at least until after I’ve had both vaccine shots.
What a stunning photo. If the rabbit wasn’t there, it would make a beautiful Christmas card.
Whaddya mean, Cindy – the rabbit provides the traditional Christmas red! 🙂