Tag Archives: Raptors

Lanner Falcon

April 24, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The first bird for the Birds of Prey photography day on Sunday was a Lanner Falcon. A native of Africa and southeast Europe they are often used in falconry.

It was a bit breezy and the falcon faced into the wind with his wings up after jumping onto the perch, showing off his well-feathered legs.

In the full side view after he settled you can see the beautiful grey coloration of his body feathers.

The head markings are quite distinctive.

Close up profile shot.

Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Raptor

Savigny’s Eagle Owl

April 22, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I spent Earth Day photographing birds of prey at an avian conservation center. This opportunity is part of the center’s education mission, along with research, conservation and providing medical care to injured raptors and large shore birds.

The first owl we photographed was a Savigny’s Eagle Owl, a native of much of northern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

The variable brown coloring is a camouflage asset in its home desert regions.

Savigny’s Eagle Owl, Bubo ascalaphus

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Raptor

Barred Owl Portraits

April 19, 2018 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The best time to photograph these Barred Owls is first thing in the morning. They hang around the pond looking for food and bathing. The tree canopy is filling in and the morning we were there it was mostly cloudy, so the resulting images aren’t as clear as I’d like. But they are Owls!

The image below was taken after the frog snack of my previous post. We were moving on and the pair flew over us headed back to the pond.

Raptor

Warmed by the Sun

April 16, 2018 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

The sun was quickly warming the day and this Red-shouldered Hawk perched on some dead branches was taking advantage.

Hello, down there! Check out my feet.

Raptor

Barred Owl Pair Getting Lunch

April 15, 2018 Ellen Jennings 10 Comments

The first Barred Owl from my previous post appeared to be just hanging out on a limb above a small pond, maybe nodding off.

All the while he was watching the water below. He dropped down and out of my sight. I circled around the pond to discover the Owl posing nicely at the base of a Cypress tree. I didn’t see the frog until I was developing the images.

The presence of the frog explained the behavior of the mate, who had moved to a branch above, hunched over watching, and was making clucking noises. After a few minutes of this they flew off together, I hope to share the frog.

Raptor

Barred Owl Pair

April 15, 2018 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

One of these Barred Owls had been hunting unsuccessfully in the pond below then took a break with its mate. They rested awhile together, each did some personal grooming and then one moved to a separate branch.

Gradually they got further apart in that tree; unfortunately for me the light was behind them. I stayed where I was expecting that they might still be hungry.

Soon one of them flew to a branch right over the water where it was still dim but the light was behind me. He was temporarily distracted by a Hawk calling overhead, but soon became focused on the water.

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk Portrait

February 20, 2018 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a Red-shouldered Hawk up close. He was on a tree branch next to the main path around my favorite pond and there were no sticks in front of his face! Ted and I were walking together and didn’t see the Hawk until we were quite close.

Red-shouldered Hawk – click image for larger view

The Hawk was unconcerned about our presence and after taking a few shots I continued on my way, turned back and got a profile head shot. It’s not much of a photograph with no background, but I thought it was interesting to see the feather and head detail.

1/31/2018

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk Lunching, Part 2

February 17, 2018 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This is the tree the Red-shouldered Hawk first chose when he first left the open area with his frog lunch. He was much more protected than on the ground but I could tell he was still uneasy as at least two other Hawks were calling nearby.

Red-shouldered Hawk With Frog — Red-shouldered Hawk, frog parts can be seen hanging below the limb

He took to the air again and I thought I had seen the last of him. I turned the other way back towards the end of the pond to watch the herons and heard a kerfuffle of wings and squawking off to my right.

I’m not quite sure what happened next as my view was obstructed, but soon the Hawk with the frog changed direction again. You can see a third Hawk in the tree in the background between the tail and wing of Hawk One below.

Red-shouldered Hawk Flying With Frog – click image for larger view

He went on his way without being followed and presumably finished the frog in peace.

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk Lunching, Part 1

February 17, 2018 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

I had been watching this Red-shouldered Hawk as he watched a low marshy area from a nearby branch. When he spotted lunch it was just a matter of seconds from branch to capture.

I was fortunate that he landed in a sunny spot several feet below where I stood giving me a good view.

He held his prey with both feet. When I developed the images I could see that lunch was a frog.

He ate little bits at a time, tearing pieces off with his beak. He changed directions several times with little hops. I could hear several other Red-shouldered Hawks not too far off and there was a small flock of Ibis about 10 feet away.

I doubt the Ibis would challenge a Hawk for a meal, but I’m sure other raptors would. After eating part of the frog the hawk re-arranged himself and his grip.