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)

This Rough-Legged Hawk (Cornell link) is one of the only three American raptors with feathers all the way down their legs to their talons (not including owls). The other two are the Golden Eagle and the Ferruginous Hawk. All three of these birds live in areas with extreme cold, and over hundreds and hundreds of years their bodies have adapted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Legs Close-Up

I had a great time just a few minutes before sunset yesterday up in Sax-Zim Bog. The large raptors are arriving from the Arctic. Rough-Legged Hawks will hang around in Northeastern Minnesota till the snow piles up on the ground (hawks don’t like to hunt through snow). Given the sun which was extremely low to the horizon and was in the hawk’s eyes, even though I was close it could not see me as it hunted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Take-Off Sequence (it only moved 30 yards to a new hunting perch)

Yesterday morning up in Sax-Zim Bog (Northeastern Minnesota) I found this Great Gray Owl hunting for its breakfast. While it looks like the owl was starting right at me, shortly after the 2nd video clip it dove and caught something only 10 yards in front of me (video link for email subscribers)

Better yet, this afternoon it is supposed to be sunny and 47F! The last time we had a truly sunny day was over nine days ago. Quite a few Rough-Legged and Red-Tailed Hawks have now arrived in Sax-Zim. I am looking forward to doing some bird watching along Hwy #133, and then given sunset is now so early, I may also go owling. Cheers.