{"id":100107,"date":"2022-02-20T05:23:16","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T12:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=100107"},"modified":"2024-02-18T16:58:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T23:58:12","slug":"immature-rough-legged-hawk-perched-on-a-tumbleweed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/02\/20\/immature-rough-legged-hawk-perched-on-a-tumbleweed\/","title":{"rendered":"Immature Rough-legged Hawk Perched On A Tumbleweed"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was delighted to spot, point out, and photograph this immature light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was perched on a tumbleweed at Bear River MBR<\/span><\/a> yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

\"LightLight morph immature Rough-legged Hawk on a tumbleweed \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

It was early enough in the morning that the young raptor still had frost on its head, back and primary feathers. I bet the rising sun felt wonderful to the immature bird. It felt nice to me or at least parts of me. My feet were ice cold and I was in pain by the time I found this hawk.<\/p>\n

Because of the hawk’s light colored eyes I know that this is an immature Rough-legged Hawk. Adult Rough-legged Hawks have dark eyes.<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung light morph Rough-legged Hawk on a tumbleweed \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I haven’t photographed many birds of prey on tumbleweeds. However, I have photographed a young Peregrine Falcon<\/span><\/a>, a fledgling Short-eared Owl<\/span><\/a> and an adult female Northern Harrier<\/span><\/a> using tumbleweeds as perches. Now I can add this Rough-legged Hawk perched on a tumbleweed to my portfolios.<\/p>\n

Tumbleweeds<\/span><\/a>, also known as Russian Thistles, are introduced and invasive plants. I see tumbleweeds practically everywhere I go to look for birds in northern Utah except for high in the mountains.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature light morph Rough-legged Hawk perched on a tumbleweed \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

When this immature Rough-legged Hawk lifted off and took to the skies I would have liked to have taken a few photos of it. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to do so.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed focusing on this fluffy, young, Rough-legged Hawk in my viewfinder yesterday morning. I am truly happy that I found it perched on the tumbleweed at the refuge.<\/p>\n

These Rough-legged Hawks will soon begin their long journeys north to their breeding grounds. I am grateful to photograph them whenever it is possible.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was delighted to spot, point out, and photograph this immature light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was perched on a tumbleweed at Bear River MBR yesterday morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,27,1148,1087,26],"tags":[4275,2497,4033,4169,2386,4067,2670,4094,4104,153,1648,2239,9461,5196,4095,373,4193],"class_list":["post-100107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-rough-legged-hawks","category-utah","tag-buteo-lagopus","tag-buteos","tag-hawk","tag-hawks","tag-hawks-of-utah","tag-immature","tag-light-morph","tag-marsh","tag-perched","tag-raptors","tag-rough-legged-hawk","tag-sub-adult","tag-subadult","tag-tumbleweed","tag-wetlands","tag-winter","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rough-legged-hawk-immature-tumbleweed-mia-mcpherson-4666.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-q2D","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6340,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/10\/13\/appearing-soon-rough-legged-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":100107,"position":0},"title":"Appearing Soon – Rough-legged Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Last winter was awesome for seeing Rough-legged Hawks and I am hoping they had another great breeding season and that they will show up here in large numbers to over winter.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Roughie perched on a mile marker post on the causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Utah. Roughie is a nick name for Rough-legged Hawks","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-mia-mcpherson-8813.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-mia-mcpherson-8813.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-mia-mcpherson-8813.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-mia-mcpherson-8813.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":120091,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/01\/24\/rough-legged-hawk-on-a-no-swimming-sign\/","url_meta":{"origin":100107,"position":1},"title":"Rough-legged Hawk On A No Swimming Sign","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"While looking for a photo to share this morning I found this immature Rough-legged Hawk on a No Swimming Sign with the snowy Wasatch Mountains in the background.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk on a No Swimming sign on the causeway to Antelope Island, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rough-legged-Hawk-no-swimming-sign-ma-mcpheerson-9223.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rough-legged-Hawk-no-swimming-sign-ma-mcpheerson-9223.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rough-legged-Hawk-no-swimming-sign-ma-mcpheerson-9223.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rough-legged-Hawk-no-swimming-sign-ma-mcpheerson-9223.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74760,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/10\/19\/on-the-lookout-for-rough-legged-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":100107,"position":2},"title":"On The Lookout For Rough-Legged Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm hoping that this week I'll be able to spot my first of the season Rough-legged Hawks and that I'll be able to get photos of them too. Fingers are crossed!","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Rough-legged Hawk perched on a snow-covered cliff, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-immature-snow-mia-mcpherson-3435.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-immature-snow-mia-mcpherson-3435.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-immature-snow-mia-mcpherson-3435.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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