Hawks of Montana

Wet Swainson’s Hawk In A Storm

By |2021-03-31T04:44:05-06:00May 19th, 2020|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This adult male Swainson's Hawk was perched near his nest in a light rain and although he looked soaking wet that didn't appear to bother him much at all.

Immature Swainson’s Hawk In Changing Light

By |2021-04-15T03:51:25-06:00September 9th, 2019|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This photo session with an immature Swainson's Hawk reinforced how as a bird photographer I need to not only be keenly aware of changing light it also showed how I may need to quickly change my settings to get the photos I want.

Time to be on the Lookout for Juvenile Swainson’s Hawks

By |2021-03-31T05:48:41-06:00August 15th, 2017|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw my first juvenile Swainson's Hawk of the year last week and although it didn't give me any opportunities to take better images of it I was happy to see it perched on a power pole.

Swainson’s Hawk with Damage to the Feathers of the Underwing Coverts

By |2021-03-31T14:28:50-06:00July 15th, 2017|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I simply don't know what caused this kind of feather damage and I hope that someone can give me a better idea of what was going on with this Swainson's Hawk.

Five Different Centennial Valley Red-tailed Hawks

By |2021-08-13T04:10:13-06:00July 11th, 2017|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Red-tailed Hawks were my most photographed species yesterday morning in the Centennial Valley of southwestern Montana and I had fun with them.

Perched Sub-adult Swainson’s Hawk in Low Light

By |2021-03-31T14:44:46-06:00September 10th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been meaning to post images of this sub-adult Swainson's Hawk in low light for about a year now and I am finally getting around to it.

Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks

By |2021-08-13T03:51:57-06:00July 15th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

These are a few of the Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks that I have photographed while on this trip to Montana and Idaho.

Low light Ferruginous Hawk in Flight with Nesting Material

By |2021-09-23T14:36:46-06:00June 10th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Ferruginous Hawks, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was able to create several images of this Ferruginous Hawk in flight with nesting materials over a field of sage and lupines despite the low light.

Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk stretching its wings

By |2021-03-31T15:28:11-06:00September 16th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had wanted to post this photo of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk last week from Montana but because my cell signal was so cruddy I didn't get this image uploaded.

Return of the Swainson’s Hawks

By |2021-03-31T15:53:17-06:00April 8th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I saw my first of the season Swainson's Hawk not too far from the visitor's center at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and that got me excited.

Swainson’s Hawk in evening light

By |2023-05-08T15:12:36-06:00October 7th, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A month ago I was in the Centennial Valley of Montana camping and the hawks I spent the most time photographing were Swainson's Hawks.

Head on stare from a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk

By |2021-03-31T16:00:24-06:00September 26th, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This juvenile Swainson's Hawk was photographed earlier this month in Beaverhead County, Montana on a cloudy morning with low light.

Bird Photography Isn’t Easy But It Does Have Its Rewards

By |2016-12-07T12:08:57-07:00September 22nd, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Being a bird photographer has its rewards beyond the most obvious which for me is being out in nature or better yet being a part of it. It means with patience and plenty of time in the field I do get it right.

Light morph Swainson’s Hawk juvenile in low light

By |2023-12-12T02:48:53-07:00September 20th, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

While in Montana earlier this month I had several opportunities to photograph juvenile Swainson's Hawks that were close and approachable but I didn't always have great light.

A Very Obliging Swainson’s Hawk Juvenile

By |2021-03-31T16:07:27-06:00September 14th, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For three days I had great fun photographing two very obliging Swainson's Hawk juveniles at the east end of the Centennial Valley and by obliging I mean they were very approachable.

Longing for Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

By |2023-03-22T05:57:48-06:00June 17th, 2014|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is raining here in the valley this morning and snow is falling in the high country in the middle of June so I am sitting here dreaming of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Ferruginous Hawk in flight and chicks in a nest

By |2021-09-23T18:55:33-06:00December 4th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Madison County, Montana, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Ferruginous Hawks are the largest hawk in North America which are only found in Canada and the United States and recent DNA analysis suggests that Ferruginous Hawks may be closer to Eagles in taxonomy than that of a hawk.

Red-tailed Hawks – Mates for Life

By |2022-07-13T06:48:30-06:00November 8th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For several years now I have been observing and photographing a mated pair of Red-tailed Hawks in the Centennial Valley of southwestern Montana that have a favorite perch that I often see them on.

Red-tailed Hawk perched above Elk Lake, Montana

By |2021-07-01T03:44:32-06:00October 29th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This past September I spotted an adult Red-tailed Hawk perched high on a rocky canyon wall as it looked out over the cold waters of Elk Lake in Beaverhead County, Montana.

Red-tailed Hawk on the red rocks of the Centennial Valley – Finally!

By |2021-07-01T04:11:08-06:00September 13th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since my first visit to the Centennial Valley of Montana on June 18, 2010 I have wanted to photograph a bird; preferably a raptor, on the reddish orange lichen covered rocks found throughout the valley. On this last trip that finally happened!

On the Wing Photography has landed in its new home!

By |2021-09-23T15:54:41-06:00August 21st, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Ferruginous Hawks, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Like this handsome Ferruginous Hawk that I photographed in the centennial Valley of Montana... On The Wing Photography has landed!

What is the last thing a Jackrabbit might see – A Ferruginous Hawk

By |2021-09-23T15:45:55-06:00August 6th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Ferruginous Hawks west of the Continental Divide prefer rabbits as prey so what you see here might be the last thing a Cottontail or Jackrabbit might see.

Simple Red-tailed Hawk photo from Montana

By |2021-07-01T03:39:26-06:00July 30th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This adult Red-tailed flew by at close range which gave me a very nice view of the underside of its wing that shows it was also molting though it didn't look as raggedy as some of the other adult Red-tailed Hawks looked.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk in a Montana Sky

By |2021-03-01T03:51:52-07:00June 17th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

There are issues with this image which I will cover shortly but I really liked the pose of this Red-tailed Hawk, the spread of the wings, the flared tail and the great eye contact I was able to capture as the Red-tail looked down towards me as it flew in a bright blue Montana sky.

Red-tailed Hawks in Montana soaking up the morning light

By |2022-10-28T04:50:28-06:00June 10th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this mated pair of Red-tailed Hawks last week in western Montana as they soaked up the warming rays of the morning sun.

Swainson’s Hawks in Montana – And the chase is on

By |2021-03-31T16:58:08-06:00June 9th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I've just returned from spending six wonderful days photographing in western Montana, the weather was lovely, the scenery spectacular and the birds; as usual, were awesome including these two Swainson's Hawks.

Ferruginous Hawk in Montana

By |2021-09-23T16:39:23-06:00June 6th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Ferruginous Hawks fascinate me, they are large, handsome and regal raptors. This one just appears to me to be surveying its kingdom from the top of a ranch gate in the Centennial Valley.

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