Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk - By Linda Gast

Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk

I was walking along in the woods by a creek when I came upon a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk having lunch.  He was not about to give up the carcass of a deer that he was feeding on.  It had been raining and he was fairly wet.  His eyes were the most beautiful shade of light gold.  His beak was black with yellow markings at the top.  His feathers on his back were brown with white 'V' markings.  His underside was soft down white with brown flecks and he had beautiful "pantaloons" covering his legs

 

The hawk kept eating at the small pieces he could get off the bones.  I kept shooting with my camera and he didn't seem to mind at all.  When I got too close he flew to a low branch of a nearby tree.  When I backed off he immediately returned.  I was able to get many different angles and you can see his pink tongue in some of the photos. 

When you are out taking photos you just never know what is around the next bend.  Sometimes it is nothing and once in a great while you hit the jackpot. 

Linda Gast
www.goldrushcam.com
www.hummingbirdmountain.com