The Guardian

Immature Swainson's Hawk.  Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, July 2026

"I’m not asking you to leave. I’m telling you."

Generally, life is good.

Huntsville Residents - I.

Two weeks ago while I was in Huntsville, a stranger told me that there are raptors in the area. I had seen an Osprey fishing in Pineview Reservoir, but I didn't have any idea what other raptors I might find there.

Then, a week ago, I met a Swainson's Hawk—and it was a handsome male! The hawk wasn't intimidated by my presence at all, allowing me to spend almost half an hour with him. The stranger was right. There are definitely raptors around Pineview Reservoir!

Generally, life is good!

Winter Hunt

 

I didn’t see the Cooper’s Hawk at first. Its plumage dissolved into the withered leaves, as if it had grown from the ground itself.

Only when I stepped closer did the shape resolve — the curved beak, the steady eye — and I understood I was looking at a Cooper’s Hawk. Beneath the raptor lay its prey, which I initially mistook for a small bird.

Much later, studying the details, I realized I had been wrong. The hawk had taken not a bird, but an American red squirrel.

Even after the initial strike, a  hawk remained over its catch to ensure there’s no movement left.  With mammals like a squirrel, that can take a little time.

Hawks are vulnerable on the ground. Other predators — crows, ravens, even other raptors — might try to steal the catch. Staying on top of it protects the food.

So what I witnessed wasn’t hesitation — it was calculation.
On the ground, hawks are powerful but exposed. Sitting still is sometimes the safest choice.

Generally, life is good.

Red-tailed Hawk is Ready to Take Off

 

For a brief moment, the hawk balanced between stillness and flight, testing the air before taking off.

***

Yesterday, after three long months, I found my way back to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The evening was warm and still, the banks empty, as if the refuge itself were holding its breath.

In the distance, in one of the marsh's most forbidding corners, a solitary Great Blue Heron hunted — and somehow, in that imperfect place, the return felt miraculous.

Generally, life is good.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

 

I still have a feeling that this is the same hawk that I met a week ago, although I could be wrong.

The Hawk was very close and stayed on the old pole for quite a long time allowing me to take as many photos as I wanted.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it brings great joy.

Generally, life is good.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk on the Frosty Morning

 

I was heading to the Bear River MBR when I spotted two Red-tailed Hawks.  One was hiding in the branches of a tree, the other curled up into a ball from the cold. I had to wait for the hawk to show itself in all its glory. After a few minutes the raptor straightened up and looked around.

Generally, life is good.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

This morning I encountered a very difficult situation with a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. The Hawk was perching in the tree but I didn't notice him at first and drove past it. Looking back, I suddenly saw the Hawk.

Returning back in reverse is usually not a good decision, because birds see returning cars as a threat and always fly away. Luckily, this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk remained in the tree. For this I am immensely grateful to him.

Red-tailed Hawk in juvenile plumage has a dark head, lightly marked chest, darker bellyband.

Generally, life is good.

Female Swainson's Hawk and Her Babies

A year ago, I photographed a family of Great Horned owls with their babies in this same tree.  This year, a family of Swainson's hawks took a fancy to this tree, built a nest, and are now raising their two babies.

Normally, the female spends time in the nest and the male guards it nearby. Both parents feed and care for their babies for six weeks before the young birds are strong enough to leave the nest. 

While raising their young in the summer the Hawks' family will feed their babies a varied diet that will include mice, lizards, snakes and insects. 

Generally, life is good.

Rough-legged Hawk on Antelope Island

 

Last March, while visiting Antelope Island, I spotted a Rough-legged Hawk perched in the tree and was glad to see it.  Soon these raptors that are wintering in Northern Utah will migrate to their breeding grounds.

I hope that before their migration I will be able to see at least one of this raptors.

Life goes on.

Adult Male Rough-legged Hawk in Flight

 

Rising from its perch, a Rough-legged Hawk spread its wings wide and let the rising air carry him higher and higher without constantly flapping his wings. This is how Hawks conserve energy.

The wings provided only lift, but to stay airborne, the hawk needed some forward air movement that is simply moving air past the wings.

 

Hawks have predators!  They are afraid of owls, eagles and crows.  Snakes and raccoons steal the eggs of nesting hawks.

Life goes on.

Rough-legged Hawks in February

There were many interesting encounters with Rough-legged Hawks this winter and each one of them was filled with joy, amazement and stories that I would never forget.

 

Leaving Bear River MBR I usually park my car by the fence on the photo above,  pack my camera in the backpack and start to prepare for a long drive home. Very often when I drove up to the fence I met the same hawk perching on the fence.

After a few encounters I started to believe that the Hawk was "waiting" for my arrival. One day the raptor allowed me to take only one photo of him (above) and since that I have never seen my "friend" again.

Generally, life is Good!

Light Morph Red-tailed Hawk

 

That early cloudy morning returning back from Bear River MBR I spotted a Hawk perching on a log in a sit-and-wait hunting position by the road.  I have never seen such an interesting and majestic raptor before and of course, desperately wanted to take a few photos of him.  Luckily, the Hawk stayed for several minutes on its perch.

At some point, the Hawk turned its back on me and showed its red tail. No doubts it was the Red-tailed Hawk.

Apparently, there are different variations of Red-tailed Hawks.  

I will learn later that they are secretive and buteos with broad rounded wings, relatively short tails and they hunt on the wing. They also can be dark morph or light morph hawks.  The Hawk I met that morning was light morph Red-tail Hawk.

Generally, life is good!

Immature Hawks

Yesterday at Bear River I photographed only immature hawks. Adults were not approachable.  My every slight movement was interpret by them as a threat.

 Unfortunately, I know so little about hawks.  I believe that I photographed Rough-legged Hawks.

I am not proud of these photographs. The only way I was able to capture these little ones is to hold my lens in the doorway of my car.  Awkward but little ones weren't scared.  

Sunrise at Bear River in December.   

Yesterday desert was very cold but peaceful. No strong wind, only heavy clouds.

West Land - 44. Farmington Bay

Farmington bay is a marsh surrounded by the Great Salt Lake. It's a home for many birds.