{"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_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"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":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t