Red-tailed juvenile lifting offRed-tailed juvenile lifting off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

One of the nice things about cruddy weather is that I get the chance to edit some of the images that are languishing in my files that I have taken but not gotten around to processing. Here are a few of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk photographed in August on Antelope Island State Park.

I caught the juvenile Red-tailed with its feet still on the perch and its wings lifting.

Red-tailed Hawk right after lifting offRed-tailed Hawk right after lifting off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This is the next frame, the young hawk has left the perch and its wings are in a fully raised position.

Red-taled Hawk juvenile flying byRed-tailed Hawk juvenile flying by – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 357mm, natural light, not baited

I’d like this image a whole lot better if the hawk had been a little higher so the out of focus rock and foreground vegetation weren’t in front of the left wing and tail of the Red-tailed.

Red-tailed Hawk landingRed-tailed Hawk landing – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light, not baited

This is a “kick my own butt” shot because it is such a dynamic landing pose and I messed up by clipping the top of the wings. If only I had pulled my zoom back a bit or raised my lens a little. My bottom was sore for days.

Red-tailed Hawk gliding pastRed-tailed Hawk gliding past – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I think I was able to take about 20 images of the juvenile as it slowly glided by towards prey on the ground.

Perched juvenile Red-tailed HawkPerched juvenile Red-tailed Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I like how regal the young Red-tailed looks in this frame.

Mia