This is my typical photo of a red-tailed hawk: out of focus and nearly out of the frame.
So, imagine my pleasure when one of these overhead shots actually worked out better.
And then imagine my delight when a red-tailed hawk balanced itself against the wind gusts in a not-too-tall tree, just long enough for me to get a close-up.
Well, two close-ups. Wahoo!
The middle picture shows the talons that red-tailed hawks come with — not an optional extra, in their case. I once had those talons sunk into my thumb. An immature red-tail had knocked itself out, running into outliving room window. I picked it up. Without leather gloves.Expecting to move it to a safe place where it could recover and fly off. It was not completely knocked out, and decided that my thumb was the appropriate “safe place” to wait until its brain unscrambled itself. I can now understand why small critters — field mice, for example — might die almost instantly of shock when those talons sink in.
JIm T
Jim T – Yikes. What’s that saying? No good deed goes unpunished? But good for you – and good for the hawk, I expect. Do you bear a physical scar as well as the mental one?
Isabel
I love the third picture. Great shot.
Tom
Tom – Thanks! It’s like golf. The good shots keep us going. 🙂
Fantastic. Some days it all comes together: luck and skills. Well done!
Laurna – Thanks! I remember being told that two traits were needed to learn another language as an adult – patience and perseverance. Turns out the same is true of many outcomes.
Love the bird photos! all of them!
Alison – Thanks! I have more . . .
Second pic is spectacular!
Mary – Thanks! I think he was sizing me up for lunch . . .