Ferruginous Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted November 7, 2010179 views21 comments

This isn't my best flight shot for sure - it's a large crop and I wish I had better light under the wings but I'm still thrilled to get it. According to BNA Online, numbers of this species in all of North America may be as low as 5842 individuals (though other estimates are a bit higher). I've only had one other opportunity with a ferruginous and it was perched on an ugly sign. We found at least two of these birds this past week in Utah's west desert. This one flew right over the pickup within a few minutes of sunrise.

The tops of two of the left wing primaries have what may appear to be a narrow halo but it's just light hitting the feather edges.

7D, 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot on 11/5/10 from pickup window, minor exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 48% of original image, lightened shadows slightly, NR to background, sharpened bird, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not setup or baited

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 7, 2010 at 6:16 PM

Congratulations, Ron! This image provides a fine view of the bird. It even seems to be looking at us! I was curious about the name of this hawk and found that one meaning for "ferruginous" is "resembling iron rust in appearance or color" (dictionary.net). Sure fits the look we see here. Detail is o.k. and is especially good for the head of the bird. Maybe a larger DOF would have been helpful. That's a nit. Nice capture of a rare bird, sharp where it counts.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 7, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Nice flight shot even with the crop. I look forward to finding these birds wintering here in AZ each year.

Anybody know what's up with that one dark feather on the underside of the wing near the body?

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on November 7, 2010 at 8:27 PM

Your flight shots have always been extraordinary and I always look forward to your postings. Congrads on getting this one. It is still a fine shot on its own.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on November 7, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Nice light on this one.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 7, 2010 at 9:15 PM

nice light on the bird's head and body. perhaps not ideal for wing position and light on the underwings, but I'd be happy to have it. This is always a bird I'm thrilled just to lay eyes on. Utah is for me, the raptor state. I see more Ferruginous Hawks and Golden Eagles there, just as I'm passing through, than I do here in AZ where I live.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 7, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Really nice light especially on the face - nice find.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on November 7, 2010 at 10:18 PM

I like the angle you got for this one and the slight head turn the bird is giving you.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Martin on November 7, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Beautiful shot of this beautiful bird Ron!

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on November 8, 2010 at 5:32 AM

Well considering the crop its still a beauty, there is some good detail would have been good to have more light under the wing especially the shady one but still a beauty

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 8, 2010 at 6:08 AM

Always exciting when one gets a shot of a bird that's this scarce..still looks good @ 48%. Like the POV and framing - well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 8, 2010 at 6:16 AM

Beautiful light Ron and wonderfully sharp

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on November 8, 2010 at 11:47 AM

Congrats for the capture, in my opinion a great shot . Very nice warm morning light .
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 8, 2010 at 11:54 AM

Really awesome to see this bird. The face, chest, and belly are really nice Ron. Great sharpness so your panning speed was right on given the 1/1000s SS, which is not all that fast for a flight shot. A bit of noise showing up in the larger version under the left wing, but I would love to have had this op.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on November 8, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Nice Catch Ron!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 8, 2010 at 1:54 PM

Just looking at this makes me smile Ron, this Ferruginous (yes I love saying that word) Hawk was simply gorgeous in the early morning light. Maybe we will get lucky with those two again soon.

Love the light, what appears to be an intense look on the hawk's face, your choice of comp and the light in the bird's eye.

I sure wish we had been able to get closer when it caught and ate its prey, perhaps another day.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 8, 2010 at 2:59 PM

Ron,
I love that light and that look. Really nice capture.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on November 8, 2010 at 7:21 PM

Good for you Ron-wonderful to catch a shot such as this, with great morning light and fine detail in the bird- despite the crop. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 8, 2010 at 11:19 PM

Congratulations on a really nice catch of a rare bird. I expect a toast is in order.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 9, 2010 at 11:39 AM

Very good, Ron. There's still plenty of detail under the wings. I like the light on the face and the sharpness of the eye.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on November 9, 2010 at 6:26 PM

A most striking image Ron, and I like the warm light too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on November 10, 2010 at 7:06 PM

This is a great capture of a rare raptor. I have seen 6 this summer. All at a distance. Great big nests in old dead cottonwoods. Not far from the ground. This is a beautiful Photo.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments