Return of the Swainson’s Hawks

Adult Swainson’s Hawk Calling – Nikon D300, f8, 1/400, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited (2012)

Last week I saw my first of the season Swainson’s Hawk not too far from the visitor’s center at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and that got me excited. The Swainson’s Hawk I saw already had nesting material in it’s bill. Soon I will be seeing these handsome hawks in many locations in Utah, Idaho and Montana. This time of the year I will see adults…

Sub-adult Swainson’s Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited (2013)

And sub-adults like this one I photographed in the Centennial Valley of Montana two summers ago. That fall I saw a kettle of about 70 Swainson’s Hawks over a field just about the time they would begin to migrate south, I was in awe seeing so many of them together like that.

Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk in flight – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 170mm, natural light, not baited (2014)

I won’t see juvenile Swainson’s Hawks until later in the summer but I always enjoy watching and photographing them once they have fledged and are learning to hunt on their own.

All of these images were taken in the Centennial Valley of Montana. It was in that valley that I photographed my very first Swainson’s Hawk juvenile, I will never forget that!

With the return of the Swainson’s Hawks will it be the summer of the Swainson’s? Time will tell.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Swainson’s Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.