Sometimes you get lucky! Two mornings ago I was up in Sax-Zim Bog, and a Red-Tailed Hawk gave me flight lessons. Normally these hawks spook very easily, and I am including an image when it is obvious I have been spotted. Normally, this means the end of my photo session as the bird “exits state left” (famous words of Snagglepuss). However, in this case the hawk only flew a short distance, changing hunting perches to land even closer to where I was sitting. Life is good.

Compare any of these images to my close-ups of a Rough-Legged Hawk. You’ll observe the Red-Tailed does “not” have feathers down to its talons.

Finally, have no fear … the Greenwood Forest Fire Birding Report with maps is coming!

Red-Tailed Hawk (Dark Morph Take-Off and Landing)