Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

Saturday photo shoot turns into a veritable hawk fest

by Leave a Comment

My usual Saturday morning wildlife viewing started out quite slow.  A drive through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal yielded little more than a curious deer but after heading north and east, hawks and owls clearly became the dominant subject.

Swainson’s Hawks were plentiful in the area north of Denver International Airport with many of them being more than willing to pose for me.  Most notably was a pair ‘caught in the act’ mating on a fence.

From there I headed to a known Great Horned Owl’s nest to check on the family.  The three owlets who aren’t too small anymore had worked themselves out of the nest and were lower in the tree.  Dad and Mom kept a watchful eye from nearby.

A female Swainson's Hawk flies by. © Tony’s Takes
A female Swainson’s Hawk flies by. © Tony’s Takes

 

[alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”private_user_album” uid=”tonyhake” ualb=”6012167089306175137″ authkey=”Gv1sRgCOHYiMSAgt2DeQ” imgl=”fancybox”  style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”710″ num=”50″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ curve=”1″ align=”center” max=”100″]

Mouse – It’s what’s for dinner

by Leave a Comment

Hawks have become quite plentiful along the Colorado Front Range this spring as they return from their winter grounds.  Today was a veritable hawk fast out near Denver International Airport.

Among the many images captured today was this Red Tailed Hawk with its kill.  It was initially perched on the pole, then swooped down to a nearby field and emerged with its meal. Unfortunately he didn’t want me to watch him eat and soon flew off before I could see it eat.

A Red Tailed Hawk stands on a pole with its catch. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Red Tailed Hawk stands on a pole with its catch. (© Tony’s Takes)

[alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”private_user_album” uid=”tonyhake” ualb=”6011911113530965313″ authkey=”Gv1sRgCKKfppTisrHntgE” imgl=”fancybox” style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”710″ num=”50″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ curve=”1″ align=”center” max=”100″]

Swainson’s Hawks return to Colorado

by Leave a Comment

The Swainson Hawk is a truly beautiful bird with a wide variety of color / morph types.  The birds come to Colorado to mate during the spring and summer and I was very happy to discover a pair less than a half mile from my house in suburban Denver.

Near where I live there is a small open space area with a prairie dog colony and some old trees. I have always thought that would be a prime hawk area and at different times have thought I saw a couple hanging out but by the time I parked and got out they seemed to disappear. Not today.

A light morph male and medium / dark female were hanging around.  The male was more than willing to pose and seemed quite curious about me.  The female though was pretty skittish.  Hopefully this pair will make a home in the area.  Overall I am pleased with the photos but the overcast skies made it a bit of a challenge with lighting.

“What have we here?” A Swainson’s Hawk was quite curious about the photographer. (© Tony’s Takes)

 

[alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”private_user_album” uid=”tonyhake” ualb=”6005562647323084657″ authkey=”Gv1sRgCKbm6veG_7mfCw” imgl=”fancybox” style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”710″ num=”24″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ curve=”1″ align=”center” max=”100″]

Photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as a print or for digital use. Please don’t steal, my prices aren’t particularly expensive. For more information contact me here.