Kind of a neat capture from last week. We have a couple red tailed hawks that hang out in our neighborhood and the surrounding area. Once or twice I have seen them perched on the cross at the nearby church but have never gotten a picture. Coming home from work the other day I saw one of the pair there and decided I would give it a shot. The skies were kinda cruddy gray but it still made for a neat scene. Hopefully someday I can get both of them there and with a better background.
Video: Breakfast time on the Great Plains for a red tailed hawk
A few weeks ago I had a fun encounter with a red-tailed hawk that was finishing off its breakfast. I did get some great photos but also shot some video. I figured this would be a good opportunity to publish my first Facebook Reel. You can view it here.
Red tailed hawk leaps into action
Red tails are the most common hawk we have here in Colorado but I don’t usually bother to photograph them. While they are pretty, they are a bit plain looking (don’t get mad at me – just my opinion – haha) plus they are usually quite skittish. Lately, however, I have photographed a number of them and they have given me some cool shots.
This one is from Christmas Eve morning. It was cloudy, cold and blustery so I was in no rush to venture out and did not want to go far. I decided to just check some local parks and open spaces which is where I found this one. With the wind, it wasn’t too inclined to flee so it gave me some nice poses. When it finally decided it was time to go, I was ready, capturing this cool launch shot.
Top Shots 2023 – Raptors
As I do every year, I sit down and pick my personal ‘top 25’ of each of my photo subjects from my previous photo year (Oct – Sept). For the first of these, let’s start with raptors – falcons, hawks and eagles. These impressive masters of the sky oftentimes donate my photography and it is easy to see why.
“Hey, neighbor, can you spare a morsel?”
This red tailed hawk and its meal did not escape the attention of the ever-scavenging magpie. 😀
Kind of a fun scene from yesterday, even if taken from the rear. I spotted this red tail as it was feasting on what appeared to be a mouse or vole. Soon, the magpie arrived, raising a ruckus and begging for leftovers. Unfortunately, the magpie pressed its luck, hopping closer and the red tail was not inclined to share so it departed for more private environs to enjoy its meal.
Juvenile red-tailed hawk keeps watch from its home
Look at that fuzzy head! Although I only got pics of one, I can confirm there were in fact at least two in there, possibly three. Dad and Mom kept watch nearby while the little ones spent a nice, late spring morning just hanging out. They are certainly cute although I don’t know that they would win any beauty contests at this stage. ? Taken in the middle of suburbia, it is always nice to see wildlife thrive despite human encroachment on their historical territory.
Red-winged blackbird takes on a red-tailed hawk
Guarding the family home and your littles ones can be a bit hazardous sometimes, particularly when you don’t get along with the neighbors. Such was the case for this red-tailed hawk.
It was trying to enjoy a quiet morning in a tree next to its nest where its babies were hanging out. The blackbirds and grackles however did not appreciate the threat the raptor posed. Both types of smaller birds tried to chase off the hawk, dive-bombing it when cackling at it didn’t work.
The hawk tried to remain stoic but that was nearly impossible and it screeched, voicing its displeasure with the harassment. Here, one male red-winged blackbird comes in for a sneak attack from behind.
A bad day for the Easter Bunny
Okay, some might not find that funny but I do. 😀
A very fun encounter with this young red-tailed hawk yesterday. My friend and I were following a pair of bald eagles and as we walked along, I turned my head toward him and spotted this gorgeous raptor in a tree we were walking by.
Like with a lot of young wildlife, it has not yet developed that healthy fear of humans which made for a great photo op for those same humans. We soon realized it had a rabbit in its talons, well, at least the rabbit from the neck up.
After giving us some great poses, it took flight right toward us. Light was kind of tough in the shadows, but this is my favorite of the sequence as you get a good look at the hawk and its breakfast.
Red tailed hawk makes an afternoon snack of a mouse
On my way home from work yesterday, I drove around our neighborhood, still searching for years for our local great horned owls’ nest. No luck on that front but I did find one of the other area residents. I frequently spot pair of red tailed hawks and they have on occasion visit our yard. Yesterday they were a couple of blocks over and one had caught itself a mouse for an afternoon snack. Normally red tails are quite skittish but this one was so focused on its meal, it didn’t mind me photographing it as it dined. Kind of graphic but that is nature, life and death, predator and prey. Plus, I think, pretty danged cool. 😉
Red tailed hawk shows off its catch, opts to dine in private
A fun, brief encounter with this very common raptor. These red tails have a nest that I oftentimes drive by but I rarely stop to take pictures as they are almost always reluctant to pose for pics.
As I went by this past weekend, one was standing on a light pole, bending over in a clear indication it had something to eat. That, I decided, was worth trying for.
Sure enough, the hawk had itself a nice little vole it was planning to eat for breakfast. It picked it up, showed it to me briefly, and is the norm for them, it took off to find someplace private to dine.