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On His Own


On His Own
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-18
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-27 1:34
Viewed: 574
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This young Swainson's Hawk was captured looking for lunch from his perch. This young hawk is getting ready to make his first long migration and needs to stock up on energy.


Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
General Description

By Lee Sollenberger


This is a common buteo of the grassland region of the western USA and Canada. In Alberta, it occurs in the prairie regions wherever there is a tree or even a single clump of willows in which it can place its nest. Often seen sitting on a fence-post or telephone pole, it is the only raptor that allows one to drive up to it, stop and look at it, without it flying away.


Swainsons Hawks winter in the pampas region of Argentina, feeding entirely on grasshoppers while there. They arrive back in southern Alberta during the third week of April. Immediately, they claim their previous year's nest, if still intact. If not, they build a new one, often in a farm shelterbelt in the rural areas, or mainly along the Bow River

After rearing their family, all leave the province by the end of September. They gather in ever greater numbers until they are in the hundreds of thousands as they pass through Mexico and Central America, making the longest migration flight of any North American raptor. Because they travel in such high numbers, they make the entire 10,000 km one-way journey with little or no food. They are able to do so by passively using solar energy, gliding from one rising air thermal to the next.

While in Alberta, their diet consists of small rodents, mainly Richardson's Ground Squirrels, augmented by Northern Pocket Gophers and Meadow Voles. Several pairs can always be seen hunting the numerous ground squirrel along Barlow Trail on the road to the International Airport. They also consume insects in great numbers. This species is very beneficial to the agricultural community.

The nest of the Swainson's Hawk is usually placed in the crotch of a deciduous tree at a height of 2-15m (6-50 ft.). It is roughly constructed of sticks, twigs and lined with bark, with leafy twigs added intermittently. The usually two to four pale greenish eggs are laid in May and incubated by both sexes for 28 days. The young are capable of flight when four to five weeks old.
mariki, rousettus, Miss_Piggy, eqshannon, vanderschelden, kjpweb, Evelynn, CeltickRanger, Ena, jaycee, nglen, claudine, earthtraveler, uleko, Raptorman has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Rick,

Great shot of this hawk. Nice composition. Good pose of the bird. Very good sharpness. Very good contrast against the blur of the background. Beautiful natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Rick,
This is great capture of the Hawk. You isolated greatly brownish colored raptor from similar coloured BG. Timing also great that you captured such a nice looking on its face. Focus and details also great as like composition and eye contact. Old wood very beautiful for composition. thanks for showing us. best wishes
Ahmet

Hallo Rick
I like the way this young Swainson's Hawk is looking over its shoulder back at you. This hawk's plumage is divine and eye-catching. A lovely presentation with good focus, sharp details and natural colours. Like always this was a pleasure to look at. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-01-27 2:33]

Hello Rick,
Superb close portrait of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk. The pose, BG, POV sharpness and composition are all excllent, which makes this image a treat to see and I thank you for that.
Ivan

Hi Rick

Great shot of this young hawk.
Good pose and great sharpness. Well composed too.

Chris

Super image...and you ask me for advice? Gee Rick..looks like I should have been up there with you, learning all the secret places and techniques...You are very good at this craft. I think the photo is really aided by the wooden fence pole or perch.
bob

hello rick,
nice capture, you got a lovely pose here, good eye contact, fine dof and good deatils of the plumage,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Rick,
Excellent photo of this Hawk. Great sharp focus and beautiful patterns in the feathers. Fantastic colours, also in the BG. Nice pose with a very good composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Rick,

Great capture again. Wonderful bird displaying its back so well.
Often you see the focus is then on the back and not on the head; I have to say your DOF is appropriate and thus technically well done...
Good work!
TFS
Annick

Well captured. Excellent detail! Bravo! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2008-01-27 7:04]

Hi Rick,

A well composed capture,all is like it should be,great camerawork,thanks

Paul

Rick,

Wonderful image,
Nice lighting,
Pov and dof all are great,
TFS,

fototab

This is a great shot of this attractive bird. I like the backward pose and the profiled head. I always enjoy seeing the focused stare on hawks. They seem so aware. In November we watched some great egrets hunting. More than once, when they would snag a small critter, a hawk would swoop down from nowhere and grab it right out of the egret' beak. It was really interesting to watch. That's a photo I would like to get but it involves a lot of waiting followed by a lightning quick response... neither of which I am particularly good at. I have given the assignment to my husband. : )

TFS
Evelynn : )

hello Rick

lovely shot of this bird of prey, i love the POV of your image the hawk
by his back, very beautiful and excellent details of his plumage,
wonderful bakcground and i love the way you framed the subject
on the image, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-01-27 9:54]

Hi Rick,

Nice shot of this Hawk in a very hawk-like pose. Good view of his feathers and head with nice natural colors and good details. The background is perfect.

Jane

Hi Rick,
This one is really nice, I like how the viewer get to see from behind as this awesome raptor turns it's head for the shot. Nice DOF and natural colors. :)

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-01-27 10:44]

Hi Rick. This is a very good close up of the Hawk. Good detail and natural looking colours in the feathers. I like the pose with his head turned araound . good timing on your part. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 214 W: 0 N: 635] (2847)
  • [2008-01-27 13:37]

Hi Rick,

I really like the pose of this hawk, he seems to give you a bit of an attitude. Excellent capture of the eye, very good natural colours and beautiful lightning overall. Well done!

Hi Rick,
This is a beautiful animal! What a look he is giving you. Are you sure he doesn't take you for a bird or mice, lol! Details, POV and composition are perfect with superb background! Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-01-27 15:06]

Hi Rick

Great pose - wonderful detail and isolation of the subject.

James

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 515 W: 8 N: 1135] (4182)
  • [2008-01-27 22:08]

Hello Rick,
What a beautiful capture, very attractive bird
great POV and composition.. Well done

Everton

Hi Rick,
Love the feather detail you acheived here and the pose. Nicely composed also and good note. I wonder why some specie are less skittish? Well done, Richard

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 60 W: 1 N: 191] (871)
  • [2008-01-28 3:49]

Hello Rick,

wonderful shot of this Hawk.Compo, DOF,BG and details are very good.

TFS

-vral

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-01-28 3:54]

Hello Rick,
Great view of this Hawk showing the lovely plumage and a nice profile. Beautiful light and colours and great sharpness. I like the matching background too.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-01-28 4:14]

Hi Rick,
yet another creature i was unfamilar with that you've introduced me to...thanks! Very well composed, some lovely detail in his feathers and a great bit of eye contact too. Top work as ever.
Paul

Great pose for this hawk. The photo is simple and uncluttered. Nice BG. The hawk is sharp and has good color. Great Job!

Wow ! Rick excellent raptor portrait , TFS .

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 570] (2343)
  • [2008-01-28 15:50]

Hi Rick,
Beautiful capture of this amazing bird!
Very good details and composition!
Regards
Ena

Hi RIck,
Qules belles couleurs et beaux détails sur un BG dans les mêmes teintes qui le met bien en valeur.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2008-01-29 14:25]

What a shot Rick what a shot ! I'm jealous ! :-) Everything is just perfect in it, a masterpiece ! Thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-03 14:00]

Hello Rick

Beautiful detail and focus,you really nailed this one down.
The plumage detail is superb.
Excellent eye contact and detail.
Wonderfully placed in the frame.
The DOF is great.
TFS
Rob

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