Perched Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
After two winters with very few Rough-legged Hawk photographing opportunities the tide has turned and I’m seeing Rough-legged Hawks in a lot of places and I have had quite a few chances to photograph these handsome raptors. Rough-legged Hawks breed in the high Arctic and because they do they are not used to human presence and are a challenge to approach… most of the time. Last week though I had the opportunity to photograph a very cooperative Rough-legged Hawk preening.
I’m not sure the bird above is the same bird in the following images but both were in the same general location.
Normally I like to post an image then some text content, but in this case I’ll just post the images and their techs. Rough-legged Hawks are beautiful and as you will see in these images; they can even look quite comical.
Yawning Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f9, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Side view of a Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 300mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Backward look from the Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Regal looking Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
The Funky Chicken Pose – Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Rough-legged Hawk Looking Pretty – Nikon D300, f9, 1/640, +0.7 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Rough-legged Hawk – What are you looking at? – Nikon D300, f9, 1/640, +0.3 EV, Nikon 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
I’m so pretty… – Nikon D300, f8, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 360mm, natural light, not baited or set up
Rough-legged Hawk looking at its feet – Nikon D300, f8, 1/640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up
This is my best side… – Nikon D300, f8, 1/640, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 360mm, natural light, not baited or set up
I hope these photos told a story, if they did they are probably better than I could have written.
Life is good.
Mia
To view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species click here.
Mia,
Every spring 100s of folks from all over America travel to Yellowstone to watch Harlequin duck during their breeding season. Its a wonderful treat. I cant imagine anyone killing one. Killing just for fun. there is something really wrong with that. Its one of the great sicknesses of our culture.
That is a beautiful looking hawk, wonderful series of excellent images, way to go.
GREAT series, love the neat poses – esp. the chicken pose!! I love the beautiful background color too!
Nicole, Great to hear from you! Thanks for you comments. Yeah, I love that funky chicken pose.
This Lady Hawk looks like a PRINCESS! Well…a Princess in her boudoire, anyway, where she can behave not that lady-like by yawning and scratching and lift her tail! This is the story told by your photos and I enjoyedall of them so much! Not to say anything about the QUALITY of the shots….which is beyond comments, at least in my opinion…
Gabriela, Thank you for visiting my blog. She sure was a beautiful hawk. Thank you also for your very kind comments.
These are beautiful!
Thanks Scott!
You are awsome kid. I am almost convinced that you are magic.
Thanks Bill, but I think it is the birds that are magic!!
What a treat for you to be able to watch this, and of course for us to see these great images. I love the clarity and feather detail, and the light in the bird’s eyes. The background colors are complementary to the tones of the bird. Was it the lake?
Julie, it really was a treat to see and photograph this hawk. The background has dried vegetation in it and there was a sandy road too
Such wonderful photos, Mia! After the now-departed fabulous bird photographer, Ronnie Gaubert, you are IT, girl! I came to you via Julie L Brown’s blog, juliebrown.aminus3.com. :OD
Janina, I really miss Ronnie and his gorgeous photography, he blessed this world for too short of a time. Thank you for your very kind comments, I am humbled by them. So very glad you found my site through Julie.
These are priceless, you got quite a show from this bird. Love the shots and the titles.
Jane, thanks so much for your kind words!
These are such spectacular images which I cannot stop looking at. Each pose has something special, and the one with beak open is something that I like in particular. If anyone told me to choose a favourite though…I could not. They all are.
Thank you Doug, I couldn’t pick a favorite image from this series either. Although the one where the bird is yawning I swear I could almost hear it singing an opera!
Wonderful Mia.!. as always..
Stu, thank you! I have such wonderful subjects!