Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk with an eye on the sky – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 1000, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VT with 1.4x TC at 264mm, natural light, not baited, called in or set up
Yesterday I met up with Becka on Antelope Island to show her the location where I spotted yet another escaped falconry bird, a female American Kestrel.
I’ll write more about the kestrel later.
I left for the island later than normal because the light had been awful when I would usually head that way. The light was still bad when I reached the island but there was some clearing to the west of it so there was at least a possibility that there would be enough to get take some images of birds or animals.
After I showed Becka where I found the escaped American Kestrel we drove around looking for her and other raptors south of the Frary Peak turn off.
On our way back north I spotted this immature Red-tailed Hawk high up on the rocks on a perch many birds have used as seen by the copious amounts of white-wash. When we drove up the juvenile Red-tail stayed calm as we passed it on the one lane road to get past it for a good light angle.
I certainly didn’t need ISO 1000 to photograph this young hawk, that was a setting I used earlier when the light was low. The hawk didn’t stay long, I only took 8 images of it before it lifted off facing away from us and then less than a minute later we saw it flying low to the ground below us with prey in its bill where it landed to dine on the vole it had captured.
I recall that when I first started photographing the juvenile Red-tailed Hawks in this area back in August, that they missed their prey more times than they would capture it and now they seem to have gone the other way, they are catching the prey more than they are missing it.
A lot of people cheer for their favorite team or sports star, me; I’m cheering these young and amazing raptors on!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
You had a nice background for this shot. Really pleasing head turn as well. I never tire of looking at these handsome raptors!
Thank you Julie, I never tire of these raptors either. They mesmerize me!
Hi! beautiful bird and the light was just right ,also. Glad you were able to catch some pictures! Great work!
Thanks Mom, I was happy to get some light and then have this handsome raptor on this perch too!
Very nice capture Mia – and I cheer for the raptors too.
Thanks Dan, I am glad to hear I am not the only person cheering raptors on!
Simply beautiful, Mia! The light really provides an exceptionally warm tone to this image.
Thank you Wally, I was very happy that some light showed up because I wasn’t sure it would that day.
The feather pattern is so detailed here.
Thanks Maria, these sure are handsome hawks with their beautiful plumage patterns.
Beautiful photo Mia! I’m interested to hear more about the Kestrel as well…
Thanks Tammy. These escaped falconry birds are getting to be worrisome.
Love that Hawk, well captured Mia.
Thank you Bob, I think this hawk must like to be photographed.
Nice capture Mia looking forward to hearing more about the the kestrel.
Thanks Sherry, I’ll write about the escaped American Kestrel soon.
I love the attentive pose, it shows the Hawk’s intelligence, wonderful photo Mia:)
Thanks Susan, I wish I knew what the hawk was looking at when I took this image.