Five Bird Photos From Christmas Day 2020

Immature Red-tailed Hawk on Christmas Day – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2050, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Much to my delight I was able to photograph some birds on Christmas Day at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning. Most of the birds I photographed were birds of prey but there were also a few ducks, crows, coots and wading birds.

In my post yesterday I shared some of the birds I have photographed on Christmas Days of the past, today it is all about a few I photographed for 2020.

Some of the raptors I took images of were immature Red-tailed Hawks. The first winter for Red-tailed Hawks is rough and many of them don’t survive. The young hawks I saw yesterday were hunting and I hope that they find the food that they need. There wasn’t any snow on the ground yesterday morning and that will make it easier for them to find and catch their prey. Until the snow comes.

First winter Red-tailed Hawk lifting off from a pole – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

The first winter Red-tailed Hawk in the photo above has an injured leg and I have been photographing this young bird for several weeks. In this photo the immature hawk was lifting off from a pole. I did see it dive on prey and bring it back to a tree to consume its catch so I know that even with a leg injury it is able to feed itself.  I also noticed that the young hawk seems to be putting a bit more weight on the injured leg than it has in the past.

Adult male American Kestrel on a wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I was also able to photograph a male American Kestrel as it perched on a wooden post. The brightly colored male falcon lifted off after this image was taken. Unfortunately he turned away from me when he took off.

Christmas Day Bald Eagle adult – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I did see and photograph an adult Bald Eagle from a distance yesterday morning. The background of this image is the Wasatch Mountains.

Photographing eagles and hawks seems to be a theme on Christmas Day for me.

Christmas Day immature Great Blue Heron portrait – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I had two sessions with an immature Great Blue Heron that was so close to the edge of the road that with my long lens all I could do was take portraits of it. That was a real gift because Great Blue Herons can be skittish here in Utah. I’ll share more images of this young wading bird at another time.

It made me happy to be out in the field photographing birds on Christmas Day. I also talked to my mother and was in touch with my sons and their families which made my Christmas even better.

Life is good.

Mia