Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk getting ready 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 flying past me – 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 Hawk 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.
Life is good.
Have a great Saturday!
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wonderful series on this Red-tailed hawk Mia. Interesting to see the different color variations in these hawks.
Thanks Jim!
I meant #3 Mia, not #2.
All of them are breathtaking, #2 is very nice with the curve of the wing and the mountain in the background.
Thanks Maria.
A beautiful series of a gorgeous young Red-tailed Hawk Mia! I love the crouch and lift off shots, those are the split second poses birders rarely get to relish.
Thank you Larry, it is a gorgeous bird and it gave me great opportunities with different poses!
Fantastic photos.
Thanks Bob, I have fantastic subjects!
I loved the rocks setting. They look like a massive series of mountains and of course the Hawk is a massive mythical bird to match that scale. I like hawks as they are always on a mission 😉 No nonsense from them 😉
You make me smile Stu, you really do!
What a marvelous bird… Most of the red-tails around here are darker… This one has such beautiful markings…a lot of white underside.
Thanks Merrill, we get a lot of variety in the Red-tailed Hawk colorations here, last week I photographed a dark juvenile Harlan’s, it was a gorgeous bird but just a bit too far away. I hope to get closer to it and take some images.