I had a different post planned for today but more careful consideration during the middle of the night last night strongly suggested that I might be wise to put that one off for a while. More about that in a later post.
Thankfully, I had this one partially completed and waiting in the wings. Thanks in large part to #$@!%ing fireworks, I got less than three hours sleep last night so this morning I’m not firing on all cylinders. But I’ll do my best under the circumstances to write text for this post that makes some semblance of sense. Coffee, lots of it, should help.
It seems like each year there are a few bird species that I see far fewer of than I have in previous years. This year, one that stands out is Swainson’s Hawks. So a few days ago I reviewed some of my older Swainson’s photos and several of them grabbed my attention because of flight postures that I find unusual and appealing. Following are four of them that I posted to Feathered Photography long ago. It’s been so long they were almost new to me so I suspect many viewers will enjoy seeing them too.
A youngster soon after taking off from a Montana fence post. I love getting good ventral views like this, especially when the tail is fully flared. The tradeoff was no eye contact but for a photo like this one I’ll pay that price.
This light morph adult had been hunting from atop a utility pole and I was lucky enough to capture ‘him’ just before he landed on it again after an unsuccessful hunting foray. As all bird photographers know, it’s far more difficult to get sharp landing shots than it is to get sharp takeoff shots, so I was delighted to get this one.
An intermediate morph soon after takeoff. Intermediate morphs are more colorful than both light morphs and dark morphs, especially ventrally, and I had good morning light on this bird to highlight those ventral colors. Once again, the tradeoff is a bird that is looking away from me.
This photo represents one of my favorite Swainson’s Hawk memories, even though it was tinged with sadness. These are two recently fledged siblings. The one on the ground had an injured leg or foot so it couldn’t perch comfortably on the fence posts. As a result, both birds spent most of their time on the ground because as fledglings they preferred to be close to each other.
This photo was taken just as the uninjured bird was landing on the fence post after being huddled next to its sibling on the ground. ‘He’ landed there because he’d spotted one of his parents flying in with a vole to feed its offspring and this youngster knew, based on previous experience, that he had a better chance of ending up with the vole if he was on the fence post. He was right, he got the vole.
I spent quite a bit of time with these siblings over several days and the injured bird seemed to get his share of voles too. My biggest concern was, if his foot/leg didn’t heal, how would he feed himself during his upcoming trip to South America for the winter? He could fly so I couldn’t catch him (I tried) so I don’t know how that turned out.
Anyway, I’ve included the photo here because I love his landing posture and how well his wing primaries and secondaries are separated from each other.
I’ll admit to being jealous of most of my readers who presumably won’t have to endure the fireworks curse again until… New Year’s Eve? In the glorious state of Utah, Pioneer Day on July 24th is celebrated with fireworks at least as enthusiastically as the 4th of July.
I so don’t look forward to that in less than three weeks.
Ron
Superb series
Ron, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
1
thanks for sharing
Late post..
What timing on the first picture. That’s exactly what I saw this weekend. All four of these pictures are why I’m not a good birder😆 I’d never guess these are the same bird.
No comments on the “explosions” last night… I refuse to call them fireworks anymore.
Some folks just gotta have their boom-booms, Diana.
Ron,
“Waiting in the wings!” Hilarious!
Good luck on the 24th. On those nights I usually have my camera pointed at the fireworks but I understand your feelings.
Stephen
I couldn’t resist that one, Stephen. It was kind of feeble but then I’m an amateur it.
BOOOO FIREWORKS. Our neighbors are still shooting them off. Our dogs have to be either ON us or we give them Benadryl.
I love that light morph one. 😀 They are all nice, but that’s my favorite.
“Our dogs have to be either ON us or we give them Benadryl”
It shouldn’t have to come to that, Arwen. The whole fireworks thing makes me very angry.
Gorgeous shots of a gorgeous bird. I can see why you liked these shots indeed. The last shot made me a little sad but I hope the injured one thrived and that they were all able to leave for greener pastures where there was no barbed wire.
Thanks, Granny Pat. I’m not sure there are many pastures, green or not, without at least some barbed wire these days. But I know what you mean.
Oh Ron, I SO appreciate these photos of Swainson’s….they have a dear place in my Heart, for sure. I had the honor of working with a dark-morph Swainson’s at one point at an educational/rehab facility and he was one of my best teachers, AND he was a great teacher/ambassador for his species. I felt so honored to be able to know him and be his co-worker. They are spectacular birds!
And I wholeheartedly share your sentiments on fireworks….I wouldn’t at all mind if they disappeared off the face of the earth!
Lucky you to work with such a bird, Karen. You obviously have special memories of him.
They’re all so beautiful, and so colorful! And do I not detect a bit of a catchlight in the eye of the first one, of which you said “no eye contact”? So no trade-off at all, to my mind.
I am hoping your injured juvenile managed somehow to make it through his/her migration and back again—stranger things have happened. This year, a VERY lame Peregrine came to the rescue of the UCBerkeley falcon nest after the original tiercel was killed in a collision with a vehicle. He managed to catch and deliver all kinds of prey for his new mate and the two chicks that hatched and have now fledged. The “experts” said it couldn’t be done—but “Alden” proved them wrong! So birds (and nature) will find a way … sometimes. 🙂
Chris, I hope that this injured bird was one of those “sometimes” you mention. I’ve often wondered if it survived.
All such lovely photos. I hope those young birds were able to develop their gorgeous adult plumages.
Is the wildfire you mentioned yesterday under control?
Carolyn, as of ten minutes ago the fire is still only 10% contained. Here’s the full report:
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/07/05/centerville-wildfire-contained/
Funny you and I just had a Swainson’s conversation not long ago too. These are all beautiful images, sad about the injured juvie, hope he fared well. As for the fireworks I bet it is like a war zone! I am in the no fireworks zone due to fire hazard with Red Butte gully and foothills nearby. Nothing is allowed above 1300 E. Sometimes the U of U or the country club golf course above Highland High will have them and that is about it. In the past when the fireworks were allowed in our area we would usually have birds we were weathering in our mews and cages. It was always tense with worry about one getting injured in the cage due to terror of the fireworks. We are not doing as many of the releases, the center is training new volunteers and hosts as Haley moves forward with her plans for her rehab. It will put me in an awkward spot, I can’t be a sub on two permits. Transfers of animals are always possible but it is more paperwork.
Sounds complicated and awkward, April. I wish you luck with your decision.
And I envy you living where you do on the 4th, the 24th and New Years Eve. Maybe anytime…
This is a beautiful collection of coming and going photos. The first one literally took my breath away, but all of them are stunners. The Swainson’s Hawk is a rare sighting here. The color morphs seem to be as variable as Red-tailed Hawks. There alulae seem to be well-developed, at least judging from these photos.
Oddly, my cats didn’t seem to be bothered by the continuous barrage of booms last night. I wasn’t as tolerant.
Thanks very much, Lyle. And I think you’re right about the comparison between Swainson’s and red-tail color variations.
Like you, I hardly ever see Swainsons hawks anymore. You’re photos reminded me of how beautiful they are. Thanks
Kent, I just heard from a friend, an accomplished birder, who says something similar about Swainson’s Hawks. I’m becoming more concerned.
Red-tailed are about the only buteos we have around my parts. So, it’s nice to see some homemade photos of others, it particular these landing shots that are, as you pointed out, not easy to get. Thanks Ron.
If I never heard or saw another firework for the remainder of my life I would consider it a blessing. The fact that we are in such dry conditions, and that fires have been so devastating…well I’ll end my thought there as what I am thinking is not very charitable.
Believe me Michael, I have the same uncharitable thoughts.
Beautiful series and sentiment.
Thanks, Ann.
Love the first image, the sky really makes the hawk stand out. We live out in the boonies so no fireworks. Does that make you jealous?
Sure does, Jo.
On the other hand, I have a friend who lives “out in the boonies” next to a town that strictly prohibits fireworks. So she says that the town folk all come out to the country to set off their fireworks. She has to sedate her horse and dog every year.
All excellent photos, but I like the 2nd one best. That is especially beautiful to me. Kudos for trying to catch the injured Swainson’s, that is no easy task. You never know about such situations, but hopefully it eventually healed so that it could fly and hunt. Beautiful birds that I have only seen twice here. Hang in there with those fireworks. Fortunately here ours only run from 9 pm to 9:45.
“Fortunately here ours only run from 9 pm to 9:45.”
Luky you, Everett. Here ours run pretty much whenever they feel the urge to shoot them off.
Great photos! At the raptor rehab place where I volunteer in Maryland, we’ve had a Swainson’s hawk for close to a year now. They’re not native here, and it’s thought this one was blown off course during a big storm. Unfortunately, she’s got a wing injury that means she can’t be released. She’s a stunning dark morph, with an unusually intelligent quality. and will do well as a raptor ambassador once we find the right place.
Cathy, dark morph Swainson’s are neat birds. I wish her luck as an education bird.
I’m glad that you posted the Swainsons this morning– the very first one
at the top of the post seems to me the embodiment of GRACE…..and I, too,
needed some grace after a night of fireworks–and I, too, am dreading the 24th
of July–I am hoping that MAYBE the powers that be in the state of Utah will
figure out that banning fireworks during a massive drought would be more
effective toward preventing wildfires than “prayers for rain”……
Kris, I’ve completely given up on “the powers that be” in Utah having any sense at all in that regard, and others. Their pitiful track record has just been too consistent for too long.
Beautiful series, Ron! 🙂 Between juvenille/adult/various morphs they certainly have different vetral colors!
Did Boston Pops and the fireworks over Boston Harbor on TV – a ritual for use. Fortunately rainy weather seemed to dampen newer neighbors enthusiasm for fireworks. Few just at dark and that was it. I love them BUT in the appropriate place and time. It was a big deal gowing up. 😉
Smart Chickadee – figured out how to climb a short stretch of screen between the window and outside shade to collect Millers! Disrupted my nap with it’s many trips but worth it……
Judy, any critter that eats millers, bird or otherwise, is a friend of mine.
I am so very sorry that you are seeing less of these beauties than in previous years.
I really appreciated this flight down memory lane.
Hiss and spit (a much used mantra here) on the firework front.
Thanks, EC. Love ‘seeing’ you here this time of day but… get some sleep!
Voluntary work. Believe me, I would love to go to bed – which I am a few hours away from.
Wow, wonderful pictures and really compelling postures by these Swainson’s!
Thanks, Christopher.