Ted and I took a stupendous boat tour at Okefenokee Swamp a few days ago.
This Red-shouldered Hawk was the first bird of the day, shortly after sun rise.
He looks a little tattered, but he had no trouble with his flight skills.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida line in the United States. A majority of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness.
A Red-shouldered Hawk watched the sun come up into a cloudless sky on a recent crisp morning.
Red-shouldered Hawks around Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are pretty tolerant of people passing by.
With human foot traffic mostly limited to paths due to the various ponds and swamps the raptors have a lot of space that is just theirs.
This one took off over a swamp with a “I’m traveling” flap of his wings, not “I’m going for prey” dive giving me a nice level view.
The best thing about winter is leaf-less limbs, that often can be in the image without obscuring a passing bird.
As is often the case with Red-shouldered Hawks, I heard this one before I spotted him having a look about.
He of course, was keenly aware of my presence.
And away he went.
Well actually, a maple leaf or two, but they did obscure this Red-shouldered Hawk’s belly. I spotted him because of the contrast in color.
He was looking all around as another RSH was calling across the swamp. He was pretty content in his semi-enclosed spot.
It was dark under the canopy of an aged Live Oak tree. The Red-shouldered Hawk didn’t seem to mind as he looked around.
A few long -ago broken off limbs provided a perch with good visibility for the hawk.
Taken May 12, 2019
Sony Alpha 6500 with 55-210 MM lens at 210 MM.
Part of the swamp I visit is dotted with dead trees, victims of time and probably changing water levels.
Red-shouldered Hawks are among the birds that find them to be good perches with little to obstruct their view.
This fellow was hunting for lunch in the water below.
January 22, 2020
Red-shouldered balancing act.
Made it!
