Banking Red-tailed Hawk adultBanking Red-tailed Hawk adult – Nikon D810, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I love to watch Red-tailed Hawks in flight and to see them bank, turn, dive and ride the thermals. I can’t help but envy their total and completely unfettered freedom.

Two days ago I watched a pair of Red-tailed Hawks building a nest in a area with wildflowers in bloom on cliff faces, lichen and some type of moss. The out of focus yellow flowers in the background of this photo are Gray’s Biscuitroot (Lomatium grayi).

This banking Red-tailed Hawk is one of the pair that are busy building their nest and making nearby forays to find nesting materials. Hopefully; guided by their instincts, they will be able to raise their brood successfully this season and produce strong and healthy young. The area they have chosen seems to have an abundance of natural prey to feed their chicks when they hatch. Time will tell. I will check in on them once in a while to see. I won’t visit often because I don’t like disturbing nesting birds.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.