Red Tailed Hawk - Flight at OwlsWood

May 12, 2020 - This Red-tailed Hawk is perched in one of her favorite spots in the creekside trees of OwlsWood. There’s an open field of dry wild grass next to the creek and she is looking there for prey.

Seconds later she launches toward the field. She’s already tucked her right talon up after her powerful vault into the air.

A split second later she is already gliding on a gentle angle toward the grassy field.

A second later she is adjusting her wings to guide her on her flight path to her target.

Her left talon has remained partly down as she may use it as her primary striking force and this is a short flight of perhaps thirty yards. She is now just beginning to pull up to allow her talons to be thrust forward to strike her prey.

And the powerful strike is delivered, aimed at a vole in the matted dry grasses of the field.

A few frames later and she is striking repeatedly into the matted grass trying to grasp the vole.

But after many attempts, the vole has managed to elude the lethal talons.

After a minute or so, she takes flight again, headed back towards her favored perch in the trees.

And we are treated to a very nice display of Red-tailed Hawk power and beauty.

Wing tips almost touching the field as she climbs above a rise in the land.

Stretching out those wide and powerful wings and showing off that magnificent red tail.

She has veered to the left of the creekside trees.

She rises now to a different perch.

She has landed atop a post and continues her search for food, allowing me to catch this striking portrait in good light with a very nice background.