Yesterday morning a wish I stated out loud actually came true.
I seldom see Ferruginous Hawks anymore and it’s become rare for me to get decent photos of them. I believe the last time I posted any new Ferrug photos to my blog was about eight months ago. Very early yesterday morning while we were on our way to our shooting destination in western Utah, an area where I used to see Ferrugs fairly regularly, I said out loud “I hope we get lucky this morning and find a Ferrug up close”, or words to that effect.
Less than half an hour later that’s exactly what happened. In fact we found two of them and one of them let us get close enough for what I think are some really nice flight shots. This is one of my favorite photos of that bird.
1/4000, f/6.3, 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
This shot was taken not long after ‘he’ took off from a fence post and headed south. I caught him in a flight posture I like very much, including an unexpected bonus – he rotated his fanned tail to give me a good look at its ventral surface. The downside to that rotated tail is that he did it so he could bank a little to his right which meant that in the shots that followed he was flying slightly away from me. But the rotated tail certainly paid off for this photo.
For this shot I had just about a perfect shooting angle on the bird in excellent morning light. And miracle of miracles, there was no smoke in the air – none at all. I’d almost forgotten what crystal clear air looks like. And for me the pièce de résistance is the variegated dark background provided by the desert mountains to the west. For my sensibilities backgrounds similar to this one are infinitely more interesting and appealing than plain blue sky.
With everything going on for the rest of the day yesterday I didn’t have time or opportunity to go through all of my photos and process more of these Ferrug shots for today’s post. Expect to see more of them soon.
Ron
So exciting and beautiful! Haley’s favorite bird!
Outstanding image!
Thank you, Gary.
This is such an exciting shot — the bird’s position, the background, the light, and of course the subject being a Ferrug! Really looking forward to seeing more of the shots of this majestic hawk!
Thanks, Marty. That last one you mentioned, “the subject being a Ferrug”, is a big part of it.
Oh, this is such a Fabulous Ferruginous! Really a stunning flight shot, so happy the photo gods and Old Murphy were feeling magnanimous yesterday! But only a photographer with your skill could grab an image like this, so kudos to you. Can’t wait to see more ….
As for “ghost wing,” I most definitely see it and think that “smaller bird” is still plenty big—making the Ferrug look ginormous! 😳
Thank you, Chris. I guess I can see that “smaller wing” that is so apparent to so many other folks. I just have to use my imagination… 🙂
Glorious photo! Thank you for sharing your stated wish Ron – miracles do happen! Agree with Arwen, always read the comments from fellow RD followers. Great group of people you’ve brought together Ron which is a reflection of you. 👏
Much appreciated, Kathleen. I read those comments as carefully as most everyone else. You never know what little gems of various kinds you’ll find.
As always it is well before sparrow fart here and I am starting my day with beauty and with wonder.
Huge thanks to you and the the fellow travellers on the good ship Dudley.
EC, thanks for the new phrase (sparrow fart) and for the Shirley Temple earworm!
Sorry, I often forget that our slang is not widely understood. Those who get up very early (well before dawn) are often described here as getting up before sparrow fart.
Sorry about the ear worm too. I have noticed (sadly) that the songs which lodge themselves in my brain are very rarely ones I actually like.
This is not just a great shot but stupendous shot. F Hawk always a favorite of mine but never get to see much less photograph one. Everything came together for this shot of the deacon of the plains. My congratulations.
Much appreciated, Bruce. “The deacon of the plains” – now that’s one I haven’t heard.
Stunning bird! Stunning image! Thank you for sharing your “Murphy Day Off”. I have never seen one in the wild and probably never will. (Massachusetts)
Thank you, Sybby.
Beautiful raptor and great picture! Seeing them less often seems to be the story for a lot of things.
“Seeing them less often seems to be the story for a lot of things”
That’s exactly right, John. It’s tragic.
When you wish upon a hawk….What a beauty you got 😊
Can’t wait to see what else you have❗️
It shouldn’t be a long wait, Diana. Maybe as early as tomorrow.
Wonderful image, Ron! Glad to see that Mr. Murphy didn’t accompany you yesterday :-).
Thanks, Linda. Yup, ol’ Murph must have slept in yesterday. Usually he’s an early bird, just like me.
That is a real nice shot all around!
Thank you, Bruce.
I’m so happy for you that your wish “manifested” ! The brilliant white underside
is gorgeous……..Arwen’s perception of the “ghost wing” created by the markings is really interesting– I wouldn’t have picked up on it—you truly
have some unusual “see-ers” in your posse, besides yourself, of course !
Why thank you, Kris. I’ve come to see the posters here as folks I like to read. I rarely read comments on other blogs other than to skim them. Not here! I want to read what others say. So much learning. And humor.
Ha, in this case this “see-er” can’t see it. At least not yet… 🙂
The speckled pattern on the wing feathers, the two dark central tail feathers, and the fresh unworn feather tips. Gorgeous . And you, a Ferruginous Hawk whisperer.
“And you, a Ferruginous Hawk whisperer.”
Ha, I wish Lyle. But thank you.
I am intrigued by the way the dots on the underside of the wing seem to outline another wing. I imagine if I were a prey bird underneath the pattern might fool me into thinking it was a smaller bird above me.
Arwen, last night I tried to find some kind of pattern in those dots but failed.
I definitely see the outline of a wing that mirrors the actual wing.
I see them and think they resemble a smaller wing. You may be on to something about it being a kind of camouflage against a clear sky, especially if their flight feathers are somewhat transparent from below.
Well now we need Mia or Ron to lay themselves down on the ground and point up. 😀
I see it! Very cool, I wonder if it does give the impression of a smaller bird from below, particularly against a cloudy sky.
I’d love to see the hawk’s belly to see if the dots continue that outline. 🙂
Maybe one of the photos of this bird that I’ll be posting soon will show the belly. At this point I’ve only looked at them quickly and can’t remember.
🙂
Huge thanks Arwen. I see that additional wing clearly – and am not sure I would have without your assistance.
And I agree with you about the comments/contributors to Ron’s already stellar blog too.
Thank you, EC! I hope that the quake did not rough you up. I am unclear as to where you live in the “tiny” continent of Australia. 😀
Thank you.
Some people in my area resportedly heard the quake. I didn’t. Its epicentre was many miles away.
Beautiful shot Ron. That is an interesting sky. Glad to see your smoke is starting to dissipate or maybe blown away. In fifteen years here I have only see one once. We show them here as rare and only winter.
Thanks, Everett. I sure don’t see them as often as I used to.
NICE! Beautiful bird – glad the photography God’s cooperated! 🙂
We got rid of the smoke for a few days but seeping in yesterday….. 🙁
Thanks, Judy. I was beginning to believe that we’d never have any smokeless days again.
What a great shot. Crystal sharp, and striking to see. Thanks!
Totally agree! Great shot!
Thank you, Richard and Terri.