Adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk on a wooden post, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahAdult dark morph Swainson’s Hawk on a wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Early yesterday morning on my way to the auto tour route at Bear River MBR I was delighted to see and photograph not just one dark morph Swainson’s Hawk but two. The light was delicious and golden and the first dark morph Swainson’s Hawk colors glowed richly in the light of dawn.

Dark morph Swainson's Hawk turning on a wooden post, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahDark morph Swainson’s Hawk turning on a wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I didn’t have this dark morph Swainson’s Hawk in my viewfinder for long, only a bit over a minute. In that time I took 69 photos of this striking raptor.

When the Swainson’s started to turn on the wooden post I suspected that the hawk was going to lift off.

Adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk prepping to lift off, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahAdult dark morph Swainson’s Hawk prepping to lift off – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Two frames later the dark morph Swainson’s Hawk squatted low as it prepared to lift off. The hawk also loosened its grip on the old wooden post.

Adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk in lift off pose, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahAdult dark morph Swainson’s Hawk in lift off pose – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

IN the next frame the adult Swainson’s Hawk was pushing its wings down to get enough air under them to lift off.

I was close enough to the hawk that by the next frame when its wings were lifted straight up I clipped them. Am I sad about that? Yes, a little but I was just thrilled to have this bird in my viewfinder. I love how the rest of the images turned out so all is not lost.

The second dark morph Swainson’s Hawk of the morning

Dark morph Swainson's Hawk on a National Wildlife Refuge sign, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahDark morph Swainson’s Hawk on a National Wildlife Refuge sign – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

After photographing the first dark morph Swainson’s Hawk I started my Jeep to head up the road. To my utter delight I very quickly spotted the second dark morph perched on one of the National Wildlife Refuge signs not far away. Even though it was really just seconds later the golden light wasn’t as evident when I photographed this adult.

Adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk on a National Wildlife Refuge sign, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahAdult dark morph Swainson’s Hawk on a National Wildlife Refuge sign – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I stopped and took 35 photos of this adult dark morph, checked my exposure on my LCD screen and when I looked back up at the hawk it had taken flight. It made a bee-line towards the first dark morph which was behind me.

I could have turned around then and been quite happy that I made the trip up to the refuge because of the two dark morph Swainson’s Hawk. I didn’t. I drove to the auto tour route. I’ll share more about my trip around the loop soon.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Swainson’s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.