An Adult Red-tailed Hawk

This morning while driving to Bear river I was so pleased to see the blue sky and the clouds.  During last two months our sky was like a pale canvas, the air was smokey because of fires in California.  

This morning I also met an adult Red-tailed Hawk who was perching on the pole by the road.  Meeting an adult Red-tailed Hawk was a pure luck in many ways. 

The Raptor didn't have any intention to fly away and I had a fantastic opportunity to photograph it from different angles.   On the photo above I photographed the Hawk against the sun and the raptor turned into a silhouette.  

When the sun came out of clouds the golden light highlighted the Hawk and his plumage turned into subtle reddish colors.

 

I saw only once how Hawks detect prey on the ground.  They glide or flap-and-glide downward and pushing their legs forward when nearing the prey. I am sure that Red-tailed Hawks use the same technique.

Generally, life is good!