206 thoughts on “Feathers & Fury~”

  1. =^_^= you always manage to sent a picture with the critter looking right at me.. their stare, is so captivating… their beaks so menacing

    Reply

    1. It is because wild animals do this. It is uncanny and I never expected it! By the time I find them with my camera lens they invariably are looking directly into it! They notice everything.

      Reply

    1. Yes! They are intense and very focused creatures. They do become curious about humans they live around at The Holler, but I suspect that is because there are so few of us. We are resident anomalies to them.

      Reply

  5. Oh, Cindy, your stunning photos send us a ***shiver*** down the spine! Fantastic captures. 🙂
    Have you read the marvelous “H is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald? We love it, it’s a must read.
    Sending you love and hugs from Norfolk. xox

    Reply

    2. My gosh. Such synchronicity! Yes of course I read ‘H is for Hawk’ and so did my husband. My son is a big TH White fan, so he read it next. I was en-raptor-ed by by the book, the author, and the goshawk. What an amazing woman. What an incredible book. Then I had to get a book on goshawks! I think I wrote a review on the book for goodreads.
      There is another book that is slightly similar titled ‘Fastest Thing on Wings,” about hummingbirds, written by another literature prof, this one at UCLA.

      Reply

  12. Cindy, thank you for the closeups of these magnificent birds! I’ve seen hawks circling here, but I’ve never wanted to get close … even to get a photo of them, ha! That last one looks like he’s laughing at such silliness!!

    Reply

  30. Pingback: Feathers & Fury~ | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

  40. What fine models, you have, and well-behaved. In a way, they appear confident about how good they look. Wonderful photography, Cindy. What an opportunity to see these guys so up-close-and-personal. <3 <3 <3

    Reply

  45. Who doesn’t love a bird with its beak wide-open like that? Haha! And the “furrowed brow” look, though it has practical purposes too, give them such expression. Lovely images that remind me of my time at that raptor rehabilitation center. A Harris hawk there that was quite the vocalist – like the hawk in the last picture!

    Reply

    1. I love it when I hear that piercing hawk cry in the sky, especially when they are multiple hawks flying. I would love to visit that center Lynn. I assume it was connected with Cal Poly?

      Reply

      1. Hi Cindy, the rehabilitation center I volunteered at was during the time I lived in Davis, CA. Here: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/calraptor/

        I lived in the Santa Barbara area only from 2005-06… Kind of a vacation time between academic programs. I started a Ph.D. program in Reno, NV in 2006 (which I didn’t finish), but otherwise I would’ve stayed in Santa Barbara!

        Reply

        1. Yes. I should have known. So we are both UC alums. That explains just a bit of the commonality and connection. Birds explain all the rest. You went to the center of animal science in the state of California.

          Reply

          1. Yeah! 😀 <3

            Had I attended UC Davis as a student, I might've studied animal science and gone on to become a veterinarian (avian). However, I went to UC Berkeley where they actually didn't have as much to offer in this area as UC Davis. In fact, I was disappointed that UC Berkeley listed courses in Comparative (Animal) Psychology in their catalog but never offered an actual course there during my time there. But, oh well, I'm picking up all this knowledge just fine on my own with the Internet and Amazon.com anyways! Haha!

            What initially brought me to Davis was my brief stint of time as a law student at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and I lived with my sister in Davis who attended the UC for both her undergraduate and graduate work. I also worked at UC Davis in their Department of Education for a brief time as well.

            Reply

  54. Wow, what amazing photos! You captured some fantastic shots, Cindy, and as I have never seen one of these birds before, it was fantastic to be able to see it in such detail! 🙂

    Reply

        1. Oh no.
          I know he will be so well cared for by you.
          But neither you, nor me, can stand the thought of you facing yet another illness, so soon, of the other creature you love.
          You have been so remarkably brave in dealing with the illness and death of your husband.
          Please let me know via email (or comment) how Bear does with the procedure. I won’t intrude on you unless you want me to.
          I actually care quite a lot about you, because it is rare in this world, to find a person as genuinely sweet and kind and remarkable as you.
          Every post I read from you makes me happy you are in this world.
          Love to you and Bear~

          Reply

          1. Ok I will email you! I consider you my friend too! His procedure is two hours long yikes! I’m betting they won’t find anything I hope it’s just major allergies. He seems very healthy. Hugz sweetie

            Reply

    1. Yes, a talented painter captures essence and transforms it in the way that only a genuine artist can do. A painter creates transcendent depictions of the overwhelming artistry of mother nature and all her creations, including us, and what we create.
      Thank you for seeing and knowing the artistry that lie in the heart of these creatures.

      Reply

    1. Ah, thank you! I have a good zoom lens which helps. My camera is not very pricey, but it’s only needed if you want to take super detailed shots and distance or macro shots.

      Reply

      1. Cindy, you did some wonder with your camera, believe me! But sometimes is important the “emotion” that you feel when you take pictures… and in yours, I see the love for flora & fauna.
        Have a serene weekend :-)claudine

        Reply

  66. Such a handsome fellow (gal?) and you’ve caught it beautifully! <3 I thought it was a Red-shouldered Hawk before I got down to the bottom of the page. I'm terrible at IDing Buteos…though I should have known it wasn't a Red-shouldered since this is too dark (and not speckly enough). 🙂

    Reply

    1. It is difficult to id the buteos as you point out, especially when you first see them as the differences can be pretty subtle. Harris Hawks do look similar to melanistic red tail hawks, except of course for the definitive tail! Have a great weekend Teresa & thanks for stopping by~

      Reply

  70. The details on the last is amazing, being able to see even the water droplets on the feathers. He looks to be a great baritone belting out a song. I imagine, in reality, it was more like a loud yelling screech. Peace.

    Reply

    1. Every time I hear the distinctive hawk screech, I grab the camera and run outside. Today there was a highly irate red-tail, and he parked on a tree near me, and I got photo after photo of him doing the hawk cry of frustration, which is unusual. He tolerated me for about 12 clicks, and then flew off. There were falcons in the sky in the last two days diving. Mostly they are impossible for me to capture in a photo, which is how they like it, and how I know how intelligent they are. Thank you for noticing and caring.

      Reply

      1. There is a bald eagle that has taken a liking to the field next door. I keep hoping for some great shots but as I grab my camera and carefully slide the door open — he say no way and takes off. I can just imagine your excitement as you race out to try capture the nearly impossible to capture.

        Reply

  76. Thanks to your art so consummate, we can enjoy these wonderful photos of birds of an unparalleled beauty. The photos are achieved with a refined quality. Worthy of admiration.

    Reply

  77. You really got up close and personal with these magnificent raptors. I can see where the term hawkeyed comes from. I wouldn’t want to mess around with these birds. That beak looks mighty powerful and sharp.

    Reply

Leave a Reply