Red-tailed Hawk perched on a lichen covered boulder – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Yesterday I spent the morning in Box Elder County driving along the Promontory Mountain Range and Red-tailed Hawks were the most numerous raptors I saw. I was very pleased to come across this Red-tailed Hawk perched on a huge lichen covered boulder in a breeze.
Red-tailed Hawk near the Promontory Mountains – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Just before the Red-tailed Hawk took flight I switched to full frame (FX) mode on my D810 because I wanted a wider view of the bird in its habitat than I was getting by using cropped sensor (DX) mode. With a bird in flight or a bird with a background that appears all silky because of the bokeh it is hard to get the feeling of the habitat but in this frame that habitat is very apparent.
Portrait of a Red-tailed Hawk in Box Elder County – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
As I was heading north I came across this Red-tailed Hawk on a power pole that was very cooperative. The road was close to the pole and even when I pulled way off the shoulder I could not fit the whole bird in the frame so I decided to take portraits of it. If I had stayed further south or north of this hawk to allow for room to capture the hawk in flight I would have had crappy light on the bird and I would have come home with images I just would have deleted. I have no doubt that I made the right choice. I enjoyed seeing and photography the Red-tailed Hawks near the Promontory Mountains.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Another great Portrait by McPherson….I LOVE the close ups!!! I wonder what his mother thinks about his flat top hairdo…
Love the facial expression in the first shot. It looks like the bird is horrified by what it has just seen…
You are so right. I love the focus in the portrait too. And the benefits we receive from Mia’s ‘good life’.
Great Series of Photos Mia. Hawks always look so busy and focused, and you capture that well.