Concentration – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 314mm, natural light, not baited set up or called in
I spend a lot of time in the field not just photographing my subjects but observing them, learning about them and getting to know their behaviors and habits. In particular I enjoy photographing and watching recently fledged raptors developing their hunting skills because I find it fascinating. This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was concentrating on some thing on the ground when I photographed it.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk about to lift off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
I went out into the west desert of Utah this morning hoping to take images of the raptors I thought I would find there to do a post on but some days though the birds are few and those that you find just aren’t cooperative. It was that kind of day so I will post a series of images of a young Red-tailed hawk that I created in September.
This handsome juvenile Red-tailed Hawk had landed on these dark rocks before I started this series, in the frame above I could tell by the bird’s posture that lift off would most likely happen soon so I got ready. I have mentioned before that it pays to study and learn a subject’s behavior and because I do this series of images worked well because I had anticipated the bird’s next movements.
Red-tailed Hawk juvenile crouching before lift off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
This frame shows the immature hawk crouching down prior to lifting off.
Juvenile Red-tailed right after lift off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
This image shows the Red-tailed juvie right after it leapt into the air.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk gaining altitude – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
This frame shows the young hawk gaining altitude.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in flight – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
I lost focus for two frames as the hawk started flying past the darks rocky outcropping in the background and then with this frame I locked on again.
I haven’t been seeing this juvenile Red-tailed in the same location of late and I hope that it decides to hunt in the area again, those dark rocks can make for dramatic backgrounds.
Lift off with a full wing spread – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
I had another great day with juvenile Red-tailed Hawks on Antelope Island State Park last week. This post is a continuation of More Raptor Rapture because it involves the same area that I photographed the previous immature hawks. At first this hawk was high up on some of the dark rocks from the area but it took off after prey to the south, missed the prey and then landed on a sign. In this image the hawk had just lifted off.
Red-tailed juvenile fly by – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
Two frames later the juvie flew by, I really like this flight pose because it shows the underside of one wing and the upper side of the other.
Gliding in for a landing – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 264mm, natural light, not baited
I spotted a second juvenile high up on a rock outcropping though not long after getting set up to photograph it the bird flew down the slope after prey but it also missed it. I hoped that the bird would fly back to the outcropping and it did. I loved how the bird seemed to apply “air brakes” as it came close to the rock, I could literally see its secondaries lift up like flaps on an airplanes wings.
Portrait of a young Red-tailed – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, +03 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
I have wanted to get images of the darker juvenile Red-tailed and I finally did, it was super that it posed on the rock for this portrait shot.
I’m hoping these Red-tailed Hawks continue to stick around the area, they are loads of fun to photograph.
These juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) images were taken on two consecutive days last week. I’m always excited to have a bird in my view finder and when I can photograph hawks for two days in a row… I feel raptor rapture.
About to land – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited
Red-tailed Hawk juveniles do not have the namesake “red-tail”; they will develop that as they mature, but they have the same beauty and power that the adults do.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk coming in for a landing – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light, not baited
Fortunately for me on the two days I photographed this hawk it was intent on hunting and paid no mind to my presence as I focused on it from inside a mobile blind (pickup). It would perch for a bit while it scanned for prey and then swoop down into the grasses to search for it.
Perched juvenile Red-tailed Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
It is said that Red-tailed Hawks can spot a rodent from 100 feet in the air which to me is amazing because quite often there will be grasses or other vegetation that could partially obstruct the view of the prey. That is probably why a person with keen eyesight could earn the nickname “Hawk Eye”.
The moment of lift off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
By carefully observing this young Red-tailed Hawk’s behavior, body movements and by paying attention to its eyes I was able to anticipate when it would lift off. Learning how to do that is important for those action shots.
Focused look of determination on a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
“Focus” is a word I often think of when I am watching raptors hunt because it appears to me that they are entirely focused on their prey; after all, their lives depend on their hunting skills. This immature bird seems to miss more than it actually captures but it will develop better skills as it ages.
Juvenile Red-tailed looking at a new perch – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 321mm, natural light, not baited
I watched as this keen-eyed youngster located, captured and ate a small snake. I don’t have any images of it swallowing the snake because it was too far away and my view was obstructed by tall grasses and Moth Mullein stems. That was a disappointment, I would have loved to have had those images in my portfolio.
Red-tailed juvenile flying past a dark rock face – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 321mm, natural light, not baited
Look at those talons, the sharp hooked bill and the feathers that are built just right for carrying this handsome young Red-tailed Hawk through the air to capture and devour its prey. This is perfection.
Back view of the young Red-tailed Hawk and its shadow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
Normally I don’t keep images without eye contact from my subject but in this image I was fascinated by the landing pose, the great view of the spread wings, fanned tail, the intricate plumage patterns and the shadow below the hawk.
I am hoping that this juvenile hawk and it’s darker and more elusive sibling will continue to stick around the area where I located them so that I may have; as my friend Shyloh puts it, more “face melting” opportunities with these incredible birds. Yeah, they make my face melt from smiling so much.
Juvie Red-tailed Hawk coming in for a landing – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light, not baited
I had fun yesterday photographing this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) as it perched on rocks and hunted for prey. This image shows the Red-tailed coming in for a landing.
More images of this young hawk to come soon. Got to go, I’m going to see if I can relocate it this morning!
