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Rough-legged hawk visits Colorado from the Arctic

January 7, 2023 by Tony

Rough-legged hawk visits Colorado from the Arctic
A rough legged hawk poses on a tree branch in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

One of my favorite wintertime visitors. During the summer, these raptors hang out on the arctic tundra. Winter sees them migrate south where they can be seen across much of the contiguous United States.

With the colder weather, I will oftentimes see them out on the plains, keeping watch and waiting to make a meal of an unsuspecting mouse or vole. This year I haven’t had too much luck getting pics of them but this past weekend I finally got one to at least give me a few captures. The light and sky were kinda cruddy but it was fun to get the opportunity.

A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony's Takes)
A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony’s Takes)
A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony's Takes)
A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony’s Takes)
A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony's Takes)
A rough legged hawk performs a flyby. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged hawk focused on the hunt

November 22, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Rough-legged hawk focused on the hunt
A rough-legged hawk focuses on the photographer while in fight. (© Tony’s Takes)

Is the photographer on the menu? Wow! You might think so from this capture, eh?

An absolutely awesome encounter this past Saturday with this Arctic visitor. I have been seeing a few of them northeast of Denver lately and I love photographing them. They are just gorgeous and usually quite tolerant of having their picture taken.

This one was resting in a field when I initially spotted it. When it took flight, much to my surprise, it circled and flew right back at me, not 20 feet over my heat. I managed an entire series of images of it as it focused on me, this being my favorite shot of the bunch. Way cool!

Rough-legged hawk makes an early appearance on the Colorado plains

November 7, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Rough-legged hawk makes an early appearance on the Colorado plains
A rough legged hawk flies through the Colorado sky. (© Tony’s Takes)

This was a pleasant surprise yesterday. I spotted this handsome hawk hovering over a field, looking for a meal below. As I trained my camera on it, I was pleased to see exactly what it was. It was pretty patient, hunting and largely ignoring me before deciding a meal wasn’t to be had in that spot and moving on.

Looking back, this is the earliest in the season I have ever seen one of these with all previous first sightings having happened around mid-December.

Rough-legged hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the ferruginous hawk and the golden eagle.

Rough-legged hawk gives a farewell flyby

March 2, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Rough-legged hawk gives a farewell flyby
A rough-legged hawk takes flight on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

While I have seen many of these winter visitors in recent months, none have been particularly cooperative – except this one. I spotted it recently at a state park on the Colorado plains and after giving me some nice poses, it took flight nearly directly overhead.

This may end up being the last one I see for a while as soon they will be returning north to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. These hawks get their name from their feathered legs. They, ferruginous hawks and the golden eagle are the only raptors with feathers all the way down to their toes.

A rough-legged hawk takes flight on the Colorado plains. (© Tony's Takes)
A rough-legged hawk takes flight on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough legged hawk makes a fast flyby

January 4, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Rough legged #hawk makes a fast flyby
A rough legged hawk makes a flyby on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Finally! I have historically had pretty good luck getting images of these wintertime visitors to the Colorado Front Range. This season though, they just haven’t wanted to play nice with me.

On New Year’s Eve I spotted one on a utility pole northeast of Denver and decided to give it another shot. While it did not stick around to pose, it did at least give me a flyby. It was a bit distant so the images had to be cropped more than I would like but they didn’t come out too bad.

They are absolutely beautiful raptors. During the winter, they spend time in much of the lower 48 states. Summers will find them on the Arctic tundra on northern Alaska and Canada.

A rough legged hawk makes a flyby on the Colorado plains. (© Tony's Takes)
A rough legged hawk makes a flyby on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk head on

December 8, 2018 by Tony

Rough-legged Hawk head on
A Rough Legged Hawk flies head on toward the camera. (© Tony’s Takes)

My first quality pics of of the season for these largely winter visitors to Colorado’s plains. This gorgeous raptor was patrolling the fields near Denver International Airport and I raced to keep up.

Suddenly it took a turn right toward me so I slammed the brakes and started shooting, capturing this image just as it flew overhead. Judging by the look on its face, it was watching me as much as I was it.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48.

Rough-legged Hawk takes to the skies

January 21, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

With snow falling right now it looks somewhat like the Arctic in Colorado so it seems fitting to post an image of this visitor from those lands far north.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. I’ve been fortunate to see a number of these here this winter, including this one from last weekend near Denver International Airport.

One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk in flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Rough-legged Hawk in flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk shows off for the photographer

December 24, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

I happened across this seasonal visitor yesterday. It was a bit indecisive trying to decide if it wanted to take off or hang out and have its picture taken. Thankfully, its hesitation allowed me to capture a nice shot of this visitor from the Arctic.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk raises its wings as it contemplates taking flight on the plains of Colorado.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Rough-legged Hawk raises its wings as it contemplates taking flight on the plains of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

No trespassing enforcer

December 10, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

This Rough-legged Hawk wanted to ensure I was behaving myself near this field northeast of Denver last weekend. 😉

Rough-legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. I’ve been seeing quite a few in recent weeks as their seasonal population here builds. Hopefully I can get some better pics of them like I did last year.

One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk stands guard on a no trespassing sign. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Rough-legged Hawk stands guard on a no trespassing sign. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk Enforces the No Passing Zone

March 29, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Judging by the stare, this guy (or gal) means business when it comes to traffic control. 😉

This past winter there was unusually high number of these cold weather residents on the Colorado plains. While we do see them, this year there were more than normal and it made for a lot of great photo opportunities as they can be quite tolerant of people.

This particular one was keeping watch over a field, looking for a chance to snag a meal. It was certainly aware of me but chose to worry more about finding something to eat than the guy with the camera.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend #winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk seems to be playing traffic cop on Colorado's plains. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Rough-legged Hawk seems to be playing traffic cop on Colorado’s plains. (© Tony’s Takes)
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