Immature Cooper’s Hawk looking at the ground – Nikon D500, f8, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I had a great time photographing a very cooperative immature Cooper’s Hawk yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains and it is highly likely that I have taken photos of this young hawk before. On September 22nd I photographed a young Cooper’s Hawk in this same area and when I compared the images taken yesterday to the images taken on the 22nd I can see the same markings over the young hawk’s right eye which leads me to believe this is the same bird.
I took my teleconverter off after taking this photo because I wanted more space around the young hawk.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk resting on one leg – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
When I first spotted this immature Cooper’s Hawk yesterday it was finishing up a meal and because it was full that may be why it was so cooperative. I wish I’d been able to get my lens on it even 10 seconds sooner to watch it swallow the last morsel of its breakfast. The young accipiter was calm, relaxed and in my viewfinder. I was delighted.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk spreading its tail – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
It preened and stretched as I took photo after photos of on the railing of an old wooden fence that as been aged and weathered by the heat, cold and extremes found in the high country of the Wasatch Mountains.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk stretching its wings – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
After the immature Cooper’s stretched its wings in this photo I thought it cleaned its bill on the bark of the fence railing but it actually plucked a small piece of the bark off of the fence and tossed it aside. I am not sure what that was about.
Stretching immature Cooper’s Hawk – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
But the hatch year accipiter went about the business of being a hawk and stretched some more in the warmth of the morning sun. I’d seen a low of 29°F earlier and it was still chilly.
Young Cooper’s Hawk perched on an old wooden fence – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
A more mature Cooper’s Hawk probably wouldn’t have been as cooperative as this young one was. It even tolerated two other vehicles rumbling by on the dirt and gravel road without acting the least bit alarmed.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk walking on a wooden fence rail – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
A few times the young Coop walked on the fence railing which made it even closer than it had been before. Even with my teleconverter off I was able to take frame filling images of it.
Young Cooper’s Hawk surveying its territory – Nikon D500, f10, 1/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
This young Cooper’s Hawk was a joy to photograph because it gave me so many different poses on several locations on the fence which gave me varying backgrounds, some that even had hints of autumn to them.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk on a wooden fence close up – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
By the time I took this photo the young Cooper’s Hawk had gotten close enough that I knew I wanted some portraits of it so I quickly reattached my 1.4x teleconverter and a took several close ups of the bird.
Close up of an immature Cooper’s Hawk resting on a wooden fence – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The Cooper’s Hawk looked so calm resting on the fence but soon after this photo was taken it must have seen prey because it lifted off from the fence railing, flew about 40 to 50 feet and dropped down into the grasses. When it did reappear it was on the fence railing again but behind tall grasses where I couldn’t get a clear view of the bird. Shortly after that it flew to a stand of aspens and later I saw it on another fence rail way off in the distance.
I couldn’t have asked for a better birdy subject yesterday morning than this relaxed and cooperative immature Cooper’s Hawk and I loved the setting it was in too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Cooper’s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a delight! Great shots Mia!
A fascinating series of images and interesting captions featuring one of my favorite birds. Thanks Mia.
What an AMAZING series. Lucky you. Lucky us.
Excellent hawk images. What a great subject that hawk was to offer such good poses at close range.
Nice. Your descriptions are very nice, too. Thank you.
Well aren’t you the lucky one! Gorgeous shots. I think the immaturity leads to the relaxed attitude, I had a fledging house wren sit on the porch railing as I walked right by it, just looking at me curiously.
These are so beautiful!
WOW!! These are some great shots. Even though you caught this immature in a relaxed mood – just look at the head and eyes! Serious, arrogant, you don’t want me upset with you look! VBG!! I love this species.
Gorgeous work, Mia.