Once upon a time, and not so long ago, I could count on seeing this light-morph Rough-legged Hawk at a specific area of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge tour route.
Light Morph Rough-legged Hawk male portrait – Nikon D500, f8, 1/500, ISO 250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I believe I started photographing this hawk during the fall of 2016. He was almost always in the same area of the north section of the auto tour route, and he was usually a very cooperative bird. Quite a few other photographers took images of him too and shared them on social media.
He seemed to spend the night on one of the signs on the north side of the road. There were many times that I would find him covered with frost on that sign, so much frost that it appeared to prove he roosted on that sign during the long, bitter cold winter nights.
With a slow, careful approach in my Jeep, I could get close enough to this Rough-legged Hawk to take portraits without causing him to take off. I took portraits of him in soft morning light and in a snowstorm one year.
When I was alone, I often talked to this hawk as I photographed him. Sometimes, he would look right at me as I spoke to him. I’d look into his beautiful dark eyes and wonder what he was thinking.
I also spent time wondering what this wandering raptor saw during his travels, from his Arctic breeding grounds to this one specific spot in northern Utah.
Because I photographed him over several years, I felt very connected to this Rough-legged Hawk. It isn’t often that I feel that way about my feathered subjects, not often at all. Usually, I don’t see the same birds week after week, let alone for years.
The last time I felt that way was when I followed and photographed an American Oystercatcher family at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida for several months. I grew attached to those birds as I watched their chicks grow up.
Typically, when I was finished taking my photos of this hawk, he was still on the sign. When I would start my Jeep and leave, I’d always tell him thanks before I drove up the road. I both adored and admired him.
I thought I saw this Rough-legged Hawk once at the start of last winter but now I believe that I might have simply seen another Roughie in the same general area.
Why?
Because I never saw this Rough-legged Hawk perched on his favorite sign last winter, and I haven’t seen him this winter either.
I don’t know what happened to this Rough-legged Hawk.
What I do know is that I miss him now.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great portrait of a beautiful Hawk. Like everyone else, I hope your buddy is ok. Thanks Mia.
A beautiful bird. My sentimental self likes to think that he is delighting other people somewhere, while knowing that is unlikely.
Lovely portrait of a beautiful Hawk; glad you shared this well-deserved experience.
I would like to think that this beautiful Rough-legged Hawk is in another county sitting on a sign waiting for photographers to come by. Wishful thinking??