Before yesterday I’d only photographed a Cooper’s Hawk in flight a single time.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning while I was photographing Red-tailed Hawks in the vicinity of their nest this immature Cooper’s Hawk came in from out of nowhere and landed on some sagebrush at the top of the cliff above and to the right of the nest. ‘He’ was obviously hunting songbirds from this high vantage point so he stayed there for several minutes while he scanned the area for breakfast.
He wasn’t particularly close and while perched he was largely hidden by the bare sage branches so my best chance for acceptable photos was to catch him taking off and in flight. Thankfully when he eventually took off he launched in the best possible direction.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
One of the reasons I have so few flight shots of Cooper’s Hawks is because they take off so incredibly fast, especially when compared to the buteos (larger and slower soaring hawks) that I photograph far more often. Here I caught him in a rather interesting flight posture.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is the last shot I managed to get before I lost focus on him. Immediately after this photo was taken he rocketed down to a rocky slope to the left of the red-tail nest in pursuit of a small bird but he came up empty.
Blog followers often have to ‘listen’ to me lament the fact that I wasn’t closer to my subject, a common complaint of bird photographers, and this was another instance where I initially had that same thought. But I have to remind myself that if I’d been significantly closer I’d have had virtually no chance to get all three of these photos before the speedy little bugger was in another county.
In my view three pretty decent takeoff and flight shots of a Cooper’s Hawk are at least as desirable as a single photo with better detail.
Ron
PS – For those interested in the return of Turkey Vultures to northern Utah I’m seeing more of them each time I visit this area. Four days ago I only encountered a single vulture but yesterday I saw two of them in flight and close to the road. Next time I visit the area I expect to see many more of them.
Rough-legged Hawks are still here in good numbers but they’ll be gone very soon. Hopefully they’ll be replaced almost immediately by migrating Swainson’s Hawks but I haven’t seen any yet.
I would have been more than delighted in taking the fantastic shots you’ve done of this nice Cooper’s Hawk. Every time I see a perched raptor now, I manage to be able to get a good shot of him taking off. That is something I never did in the past. With all your awesome flight shots, you inspire of a lot of us to do the same. Have a great day!
That you say you have hard time telling the difference between a Cooper and Sharp-Shinned makes me feel good… sorry❗️They do not stay put long enough for me.
We have Turkey vultures year round, there’s a lot… everywhere 😁 Many times their shadows get me excited thinking it’s a Bald but no. I’ve learned to appreciate them because they are the only bird I’ll see all day ❗️
Beautiful photos today. Happy you were in the right place, right time 😊
Diana, I wish some folks appreciated vultures more than they do. But then some of those same folks probably wish the same thing about me and starlings…
I’ve had a Cooper’s hawk in my yard lately and am amazed that you got, not one, but three take off shots. If I turn my head and look back they can disappear.
The one in my yard left me a gift on the front steps yesterday. A Pine Siskin wing. As if salmonella isn’t bad enough. I just have one feeder up and bleach it daily. There are plenty of Pine Siskins and haven’t seen any sick or dead,
I wish they would merge Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned into one species so I wouldn’t always have stand there scratching my head.
“I wish they would merge Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned into one species so I wouldn’t always have stand there scratching my head.”
I’ll admit it, Lyle. I’ve had the same thought. More than once.
Here’s another 3-shot series that I could totally see on a wall! I’m fascinated by the posture in the 2nd shot and you know how much I love a wing-fling even if it is at an angle. These are marvelous!
Excited that you’re “watching TVs” right now. Can’t wait to see some images on your blog soon (big hint😉).
Thanks, Marty.- that’s a good suggestion. I’m not sure why but I don’t post vultures as often as I probably should.
Oh, to have feathers and wings! Your photos are the next best thing to being the bird.
I have the same dream, Nina. As do several others around here. Thanks.
Yet another amazing series. Wing fling, britches, and talons make for a wonderful start to my day.
Good. Thank you, EC.
Such lovely feather patterns! I don’t think I could ever get tired of looking at them.
I’ve been reading your posts from previous years and there’s one picture that won’t show. I don’t know if it’s on my end but the first image in “Montana Beckons Me Once Again” is a broken thumbnail titled “red-tailed hawk 8025b ron dudley”. I realize it’s years old but I thought I’d let you know.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/07/16/montana-beckons-me-once-again/
I went and checked. It doesn’t show for me either.
Yup, that link is broken. Thanks for the heads up, Amy. I’ll see if I can fix it later today.
Amy, I’ve repaired the link. That photo should show up now.
Thank you! I can see it now. What a lovely red tail. 🙂
I love these shots. The hawk looks bigger than it is. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen. You’re right, for a raptor they’re fairly small.
Ah, Cooper’s—backyard birders (with feeders) mostly disdain them but I just remind myself, “Hawks gotta eat,” and I do admire their looks and persistence. (Though I’ve still not quite forgiven the loss of a little Oak Titmouse a few months ago.) But, more importantly, your photos are fab, all wings and talons! And the intense gaze—that gold eye in each image is like a laser on its target. So glad you captured these moments with Coop.
Chris, I actually wish Coops would visit my feeders occasionally. To me that would imply healthy populations of both predator and prey.
Great photos! I’m glad you left Murphy home for this outing :-).
Linda, I didn’t leave him home that morning. He just lost attention for a few moments and let me get away with something. He made up for it later.
Outstanding shots Ron! Congrats on capturing them 😊 All three are keepers. Really enjoy the sagebrush contrast with the blue sky.
Thank you, Kathy. I always enjoy sagebrush in my photos, even when it isn’t looking its best like it is here.
Excellent series Ron. These Cooper’s get off the blocks (branches) faster than Usain Bolt. They take off so fast I have actually missed getting them in frame while taking off from my back fence. Take offs take place multiple times a day for raptors, but that first shot shows you the effort it takes to explode off a branch.
“They take off so fast I have actually missed getting them in frame while taking off from my back fence.”
Ha, that’s a typical occurrence for me, Everett. Especially when they’re relatively close.
Nice capture, they are fast! You will have to come sit in my yard with your camera and practice getting flight shots of the Cooper in my yard daily. She is sly! When I walk out to fill the bird feeders she will fly slowly behind me using me as a blind, then last minute bolt around me a dive for one of the Eurasian doves. Lately she has been putting a dent in the number of starlings gobbling down my suet. We have steadily had Cooper’s hawks in our yard for 20 years. Last year a couple started nesting in a very visible location from our balcony. I was excited and looked forward to watching nestlings. The magpies had other ideas, they drove the mother off and took the eggs. It is hard to defend against a mob of magpies.
Sounds like your yard is bird heaven, April. At least Cooper’s Hawk heaven.
Sorry for the late response to your comment. For some reason I didn’t see it until just now.
Brilliant shots. I love the long legs clad in feathery bloomers. You don’t realize how long those legs are until you see them stretched out like this. You’re correct — you needed to be far away to get such a good series. Your photos and commentary are a delight.
We had 3 juvenile Cooper’s in our neighborhood last summer. They zoomed through the tall pines and firs — it was thrilling to watch. The local songbirds and jays became very still when the hawks were near. I’m curious to see if they come back this year.
Thanks, Kathryn. When I’m in the field photographing songbirds and they suddenly go quiet and disappear into the bushes it often means a raptor is flying in nearby. Typically, though not always, that raptor is a Cooper’s.
Real nice series. I like the second one especially. They are quick!
They are indeed. Thanks, Bruce.
Another soaring experience for me! Thanks, Ron!
Thank you, Mary.
Beautiful shots Ron! I love this series.
Good. Thanks, Mark.
Love those flat heads. Great catches. Fast indeed! While filling the bird feeders in the back yard, I had one come zooming around the house in right over my head…he plucked a Downy woodpecker right off the suet log without losing a beat and was gone in an instant. I could swear he parted my hair as he flew over me. Hazardous duty for sure. 😮
” I could swear he parted my hair as he flew over me”
Yup, that’s a statement from someone who’s obviously had the experience. When they put on a burst of speed it’s very impressive and so is their agility in flight. Thanks, Kathy.
WOW! Wonderful shots! #2 is particularly neat with the wing position and the stripes showing on both wings so close to the body. They always seem to have such scrawny lower legs feet tho them and those needle sharp talons certainly are designed to get the job done..
Thanks, Judy. I think the flight posture in that second shot is pretty interesting too.
Very decent indeed.
Thank you, Steve.
Great photos, Ron. What a treat to have him take off in a manageable way! Especially nice is the spread of the tail, so we can see the number of stripes clearly, as that eliminates any confusion I might have haad with a Sharpie. You’re such a good birder, I wouldn’t have expected you to get confused. You make a good point about the plusses and minuses of having the bird further away.
Nancy, I have the same problem telling the difference between Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks that many other folks have. To be honest I rely more than I should on the fact that I see Cooper’s far more often than I do Sharp-shinned. Sometimes I just go with the odds and hope I’m right… 🙂