Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk along the South Valley RoadJuvenile Red-tailed Hawk in flight along the South Valley Road – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

These are a few of the Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks that I have photographed while on this trip to Montana and Idaho. This first image is a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in flight along the South Valley Road. The blue sky and sagebrush below it made for a silky smooth background behind the young raptor flying along side the road.

Sub-adult Red-tailed Hawk RousingSub-adult Red-tailed Hawk Rousing – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

This second image is of a sub-adult Red-tailed Hawk rousing next to the road. The hawk looks a bit scruffy but as usual I couldn’t resist photographing it, I don’t really care what plumage phase the birds I photograph are in. It is hard to see in this frame but some of its tail feathers are red like an adults and some are retained juvenile tail feathers. Once again I have sagebrush in the background plus some shadows of conifers in the distance.

Red-tailed Hawk near Lima, MontanaRed-tailed Hawk near Lima, Montana – Nikon D810, f9, 1/250, ISO 250, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

This final image is an Red-tailed Hawk taken east of Lima, Montana and it was one of the most cooperative adult Red-tails that I have ever run across. That may have been because the hawk’s crop was full and it didn’t really want to take flight while digesting its most recent meal or maybe it simply didn’t feel threatened. At any rate I am glad it allowed me to take a nice series of images of it. The background here isn’t sage, it is out of focus willows along the Red Rock River’s banks. This bird looks a little scruffy too.

That is okay with me, I am pretty sure after several days of camping I look scruffy too. Oh well, comme ci, comme ça.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.