Rufous Red-tailed Hawk female flying past me – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light, not baited
After writing about the Red-tailed Hawk I photographed on the rusty farm machinery three days ago I started to wonder whether I would see another Red-tailed Hawk that I have photographed for several years. The stunning female rufous Red-tailed Hawk that I have taken photos of for several years has been on my mind for days.
When I first found her a number of years ago the light always seemed to be bad. Low light or poor light angles seemed to plague me. Almost every time I saw her I ended up being frustrated. I struggled. I tried again and again to photograph her and when I finally did photograph the female rufous Red-tailed Hawk in good light I wanted to stand up and dance. I wanted to shout with glee.
She and her mate have nested in an area of northern Utah for a couple of years and now I am wondering if they will be back in the same area to nest again. I haven’t been up to that area for a while now and I haven’t seen her since the end of the nesting season but this is almost the time of the year when I start to see red-tailed hawks begin to court and rebuild old nest or create new ones.
I keep wondering if I will see this big, gorgeous, rufous Red-tailed Hawk female in my viewfinder again this year. Only time will tell but I sure hope so!
I just need some clear weather to drive up to see if she is around.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
She is a “purdy, purdy gurl!” I hope you find her again this year!
STUNNED!!! SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Nice capture for a fly-by. I hope you see her again.
I so hope you see her. And hope even more that she and her mate have a successful season, survive and thrive.