Sex as motivation?
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Four years ago next month this bonded pair of Red-tailed Hawks put on quite a performance as they mated on a rocky outcrop reasonably close to me.
It’s times like this that I wish I had a newer camera with a buffer that didn’t fill up quite so quickly, or at all. Even though I got many interesting photos of them mating I have to wonder what I missed because I had to wait briefly several times while my image files were being written to my memory card. I love my Canon 7D Mark II, so much so I have two of them and briefly considered purchasing a third before they become unavailable, but its technology is rapidly being left behind.
At this point I’m trying to wait until the Canon R7 is released but I’m running out of patience.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
When mating had been completed the male immediately hopped onto a higher point of rock for just a moment before he took off.
At first I thought it was more than a little insensitive of him to pay so little attention to his mate after the act had been completed, sort of a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” kinda thing.
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But just over one minute later, like a good father-to-be, he was hauling nesting material to their nest.
I guess a little hanky-panky can be pretty motivating, even in the bird world.
Ron
The 1st photo gives new meaning to the term “cliffhanger”.
R7? Different than the R5 (if I remember) you were considering?
Yes, different Lyle. For one thing it will have an APS-C sensor (cropped frame) rather than full frame. For bird photographers that’s a big deal.
Grin, this amused me. And my fellow commentators also got me laughing. This is such a good community!
We work at it, Arwen!
Loved your last sentence.
I wasn’t prepared for the “money shot” to be first. 😂 🥂 Being the immature sort that I am (if we are who we teach, I’m a 15-year-old boy), I now have this song in my head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54LgyqSPfsQ
I’d be willing to bet that there are a lot of women out there who would forgive their partner for not sticking around to cuddle if they got right to doing home repairs after the deed. 😉
😂😂 on both counts…
Thanks, Chris — must be our SoCal sensibilities. 😉
🤪
“I wasn’t prepared for the “money shot” to be first”
You know me, Marty – Mr. Unpredictable. And as you know, there’s more than a little truth to the saying “we are who we teach”.
Wonderful photos. I hope they return and you have more opportunity to photograph their behavior and raising young.
Thank, April
Good dad counts for more than good lover in the bird world! So all is forgiven by Mrs. Red-tail. I’m so hopeful (as I’m sure you are) that you’ll have the opportunity to locate this beautiful pair again so we can surreptitiously watch their nesting and hawklet-raising activities this spring and summer. 😎
Chris, it certainly would be nice if they return for this nesting season. It’s very good red-tail habitat up there so it could happen.
That male is most definitely a keeper.
A keeper in most excellent britches.
Thank, EC.
The “takeoff” shot is my favorite of a bird ❗️
A little housekeeping after some lovin… he’s a keeper 😁
Enjoy your day.
PS
Loved your magpie post the other day❗️
“A little housekeeping after some lovin… he’s a keeper”
Love the way you put that, Diana.
A good job Mr. Hawk, all around.
Great photos and post Ron.
Thank you, Mark.
Thank you, Ron. A fun way to start the day. I appreciate your perspective both visual and literary 🙂
Much appreciated, Mary.
Neat! They are programmed/have learned the most efficient way to “move on down the line”…..😍
Thanks, Judy.
The photos are gorgeous as usual with their great sharpness. The hawk in flight is just perfect. I have the same camera as yours and I love it the same way but I’m just beginning to take my shots in RAW (I’m in JPG since 2011) and I’m considering the new R series too. Have a great day!
Laval, there’s a learning curve involved with processing RAW files but once you get the hang of it you’ll never look back. When I first started photographing birds I didn’t wait very long before switching to RAW but as far as I’m concerned it was TOO long. I hate processing those old jpeg files.
Excellent photos and another interesting post. Yes, males in the bird and animal world do the job nature programmed them to do and then they are gone. No time for cuddling etc. But, he is definitely a good guy going right to work on getting the nest built.
ps: It has been said that patience is a virtue, but it is a virtue very had to acquire – hang in there Ron Canon will come through for you 🙂
“Canon will come through for you”
I hope so, Everett. As far as I’m concerned Canon has some making up to do after they abandoned the 7D line.