Red-tailed Hawk-I think

Gallery: AvianPosted March 7, 2014142 views11 comments

I'm pretty sure this is a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. These drive me crazy, but I can't make it out to be anything else. If someone has a better ID, I'll be interested.

1Div, 500mm f4 ISL + 1.4TC, beanbag on truck window, f5.6, 1/2500, iso 500, Av mode with +2/3 compensation. Processed in LR5 & CS6. Cropped to 6.7MP from a horizontal original. The perch is a wheel of an irrigation pipe and I removed a second oof one that was immediately behind and to the left of the perch. This was taken in the Butte Valley National Grasslands in northern California on my trip to the Klamath Basin. Taken February 20th at 9:44 am.

Your comments and criticisms are most appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 7, 2014 at 8:27 PM

I love everything about this except the perch. I'm sure you wish it were a natural perch, but you take what is offered sometimes.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on March 7, 2014 at 9:13 PM

Juvenile raptor ID's always give me fits also. This is such a lovely and regal pose in great light. The two toned BG is absolutely beautiful, really works well for this shot. Way to go!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 7, 2014 at 9:55 PM

Like the colors on the hawk -- and very sharp

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on March 7, 2014 at 10:19 PM

Really nice, Dennis. Nice BG, nice pose by the bird, and you did very good on the exposure and comp. A more natural perch would have been nice but this still works quite well. Colors are nice and super detail. I agree about being a RTH. Size of bird is one component but the belly band on this bird clinches it for me.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 8, 2014 at 9:25 AM

Hello Dennis

Sharp with excellent details, very nice background.

bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 8, 2014 at 9:51 AM

Nicely done, Dennis. The perch is not a deal breaker, as many species often do that. I can't be sure, but my Sibley's indicates a light western juvenile.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 8, 2014 at 10:22 AM

Dennis, everything is super but for the perch and you have to take what you get. Great job.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 8, 2014 at 1:04 PM

I like this quite a bit Dennis. Nice upright pose, beautiful background colors ,and terrific detail on the bird. The perch is what it is-hard to choreograph the scene with these guys.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 8, 2014 at 2:05 PM

I like the pose and the BG and I don't mind the unconventional perch at all (from the thumbnail I thought it was a saguaro cactus). If it is only 6.7MP the quality looks good for what I assume must be a pretty big crop. How many megapixels does your camera have?

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 8, 2014 at 7:18 PM

Nice detail and lighting Dennis, I like the too toned background. I agree with you on the ID, I often see Swainson's Hawk perching on farm equipment like this.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 9, 2014 at 8:56 AM

Pleasant pose and an interesting perch. Since these birds tend to hang around man-made structures it doesn't bother me at all. The colors in the BG are very smooth and form an excellent BG for the bird. Well done. Sorry but cannot help you further with the idea.

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments