Immature Red-tailed Hawk With Mountains In The Background

Immature Red-tailed Hawk with mountain slopes in the background – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

My best bird photos from yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA were of an immature Red-tailed Hawk with the shadowed Wasatch Mountain slopes in the background.

I was excited to see this young hawk on the nest box. During the winter this nest box is a favorite perch for Red-tailed Hawks. In addition, Rough-legged Hawks, American Kestrels and some songbirds also enjoy perching on it.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk on a nest box in early morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

While I observed and photographed this young Red-tailed Hawk an adult male Northern Harrier cruised in. The “Gray Ghost” dove at the young buteo twice. The Red-tail didn’t even flinch when the harrier came in close.

As a result of having my 500mm plus the 1.4x teleconverter attached to my camera I was too close to catch all of the action between the two raptors. I had too much glass. Perhaps on another day in the future I will catch that action if this young bird of prey sticks around for the winter.

Stern looking immature Red-tailed Hawk – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

The young Red-tailed Hawk lifted off right after this last photo was taken. It flew across a field after prey. It missed whatever it was after. When the young hawk lifted off from the grasses I had hoped that it would come back to the nest box but it flew into a stand of willows. I thanked the raptor and drove on to look for more birds.

Life is good.

Mia

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