Juvenile 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 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, 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.
Great shots Mia! Love em all. Well worth the trip if you didn’t capture anything else.
Great shots do like the one showing the red tail but also the others . I saw a pair on Monday and took lots of photos but none were as nice as these though it was a pleasure to watch and listen!
Just glorious. Even when having a ‘bad feather’ day.
Fabulous shots Mia – love the one in the middle!
Oh, the EYE – that BEADY EYE – in the top photo!! Someone beat me to a comment about it – transfixing – the purposeful, convicting Eye of God!! Interestingly, not focused on us but on his own pursuits.
Drop dead gorgeous images, Mia. Love the eye contact.
Three great images, but the last is by far my favorite…this is an incredible capture! Love the close up detail of the bird and especially like the soft mottling of harmonious colors in the background….
Damn Mia, but you are one lucky lady to find this bird so close,
and a great photographer to get the shots… Well done, yes, well done. ;-))
Beautiful!