hawk taking off to flight

Took this near the Steen Mountains in SE Oregon. Quite a few of them around for us to snap shots of.

Kathryn:

If you are looking for critiques of your images (I see you've also posted a mustang in the wildlife forum) you should be posting instead in the proper Gallery. The forums are intended for discussion of topics related to birds, wildlife, etc. rather than image critique. Posting images in a forum is still ok buy it is typically done to illustrate a point or ask a question about technique.

Oh. Let me try to put it in the galleries. How would I delete it from this form then? Thanks.

Wherever this image belongs it's a nice capture of a juvenile red-tailed hawk. It's eye reveals the basis for the "from bottom up" age-related progression of melanotic darkning of the iris that occurs in many species, but very strikingly in the buteos. The lower portion of the iris is continuously more strongly exposed to the sun's ultraviolt rays , thus causing actinic melanosis to proceed from the lowest arc of the originally yellow-gray to yellow iris to ultimately involve the entire iris. It's not uncommon to observe a somewhat lighter superior portion of the iris in birds as old as 4 or 5 years.
Dave Graham, East River, SD

ok so no critique..........but hey guys it's one great shot regardless of where it "belongs." give the lady a break. I am a newbee too.
And Dave, as one (amateur) ornithologist to another. good point! thanks

It's OK. That's how I will learn. Thanks for the info Dave. I didin't know this information. I did repost in the gallery.

As a photographer, congratulations on a beautifully rendered, well composed photograph. I looked at this eye catcher for several minutes, and frankly I'm envious.