Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
I slowly approached a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk from behind while it intently scanned around the grounds below its perch.
Red-shouldered Hawk (juvenile)
I circled to its left and was noticed.
Red-shouldered Hawk (juvenile)
A closer look at the hawk as it focused on me.
Red-shouldered Hawk close-up (juvenile)
Apparently I wasn’t a concern, as the Red-shouldered Hawk returned to watching the grounds below.
Getting comfortable enough to lift and rest a leg! 🙂
Red-shouldered Hawk (juvenile)
What the Red-shouldered Hawk was hunting I didn’t stay to find out, but it was most likely a lizard.
I will say, the young hawk looked quite comfortable sitting there, making me think this was a successful hunting perch; and s/he was just waiting for the day’s next meal to come by.
He knows you are there watching but he’s not scared to see you. Most likely he’s used to see humans. He’s young too! Great shots, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! It was a rewarding photo op for me for sure! 🙂
S/he is a beauty, wow! I really admire your photography skills, Donna. 🥰
Thank you very much, John, you are so kind! 😊
Great captures Donna, especially the Hawkeye stare ! Raptors make such majestic subjects for us.
Thank you, Ashley! Majestic and fierce at the same time, those eyes can really make you feel a bit uncomfortable!
He’s a beauty! I bet if we could really zoom in we’d see your reflection in its eye. Great sighting, Donna!
Thank you, Deborah! I did zoom in and could see my silhouette. 😲
😁
Lucky to get so close, good fieldcraft! What is it sitting on?
Thank you, Brian! It was a short ornamental pole with a ’round’ ball on top. Not sure what it was for, looked like it had been there a long time.
Stunning shots Donna! You were lucky to get so close to that beautiful bird.
Thank you, Minna! It was one of those ‘right place right time’ moments! And s/he being more interested in the ground than me. 🙂
The young fella is camera savvy…excellent photographs, Donna!
Thank you, Indira, he was so obliging! I did give a big thank you to him when I left. 🙂
I love that close-up Donna. A fabulous photo!
Thank you, Mike! The hawk won the stare-down! Of course, I didn’t try to win. 😉
Split vision, lika a good hockey player. Nice shots!
Thank you, Hans! I think the stare was asking me nicely to leave! 😉
Nice, clear, sharp photos! It looks like the hawk was giving you the stare of death.
Thank you, I do think s/he was. “Hey lady, this is my turf, you need to leave!” And I did! 😉
Nice captures, Donna, with excellent feather detail! Great to have such a willing subject and how interesting he chose that smooth ball to perch on.
Thank you, Ellen! I’m guessing s/he’s been there before. I could tell in my photos how the one side of the ball was ‘clean’ from tail sweeping. The other side still dirty with claw line marks. 🙂
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
The close up is stunning.
That eye had a good lock on me, eh?
Hello Donna,
What beauty this juvenile red shouldered hawk is!
In my biased human view, something about his expression shows a bit of apprehension or uncertainty…something all of us can and do relate to at various points in our lives. I wish for him a long and healthy life 🙂
Thank you, Takami! Don’t you just love a bird’s expression?! Sometimes the expression alone tells a story. 🙂 Yes, I think s/he was watching the ground and bushes for a lizard. And ready to attack once the sighting happened. I left, I was afraid I’d see another little lizard lose the battle.
Wonderful sharp images, Donna. I wonder, can we see a selfie in its eye? 🙂
Thank you, Eliza! My silhouette is there, but not as distinct as that alligator eye selfie I had. 🙂
Nice shots! It is great he let you get close!
Thank you, Sharon! I was surely lucky! 🙂
It said “This is my good side.” LOL!
What is it perched on?
It was a beautiful ‘good side’. 🙂
Some type of ornamental metal pole with a ball on top. Looked quite old and might have been there a long time. A property boundary marker maybe?
Wow. I was noticing that he/she didn’t have a lot to grip with the roundness of it. Incredible balance.
Terrific series, Donna! I really like the portrait shots. 😊
Thank you, Belinda! I was shocked it allowed me to sneak up behind it. Once I was eyeballed, I had a feeling it knew all along. 😊
Beautiful shots of a beautiful hawk. Loved the colors on its beak. 😊
Thank you, Irene! I couldn’t believe how close I was to it. Not normal for sure! 😉
Fascinating and your usual superb shooting! We seem to be busting out with youngsters around here, too!
PS Love the detail on the feathers!
🥰
Thank you, Gunta! We love the youngsters!!
Great captures Donna! I like the perch … not a ‘fence’ but a pleasing change from the usual!
Thank you, Denise! Not a communication wire either! 😉
Good for you, Donna. Don’t you just love these moments when you are alone with a bird and get the chance to get great looks and photos?!
Thank you, Tanja……we do love those moments! 🥰
You are the bird whisperer, Donna. Magical photos. 😍
😉 I try to be! Thank you much, Sylvia!
Donna, wow! What an awesome subject. You did a beautiful job!
Thank you, Sandra! I have to pass on the thanks to that hawk too, s/he was a perfect subject. 🙂