Rough-legged Hawks – they are everywhere…
… And that is a great thing. Everywhere may be an exaggeration but if you drive along the range roads west of Calgary or hike along the edges of the fields around the Springbank and Bragg Creek areas, you are very likely to spy one of these beautiful birds perched on a treetop or telephone pole. If you are lucky, or have the time to wait, you can see them gliding over grassy areas searching for the small creatures that they prefer to dine on. In my wildlife searches this winter, I have enjoyed seeing many of these hawks.
Above and below a Rough-legged is on the hunt in West Bragg Creek.
(please click on any image if you want to open a new page with a higher resolution version)
Below, a couple of hawks working the fields around the Springbank Airport came close enough and stayed around long enough for me to photograph.
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Christopher Martin Photography 
Superb images. 🙂
January 28, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Nice captures of the Rough-legged. haven’t seen one in a while. Like how the light accentuates the portrait.
January 11, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Great photos! I am conducting eagle surveys across Utah this winter, and am paying attention to Rough-legged Hawk numbers as well. Seems to be more than usual down here also. Great post!
January 10, 2013 at 6:07 pm
I found my way here via Val at “Arty Old Bird” who apparenlty thinks this blog is great and so now I find for myself that the blog IS GREAT!
January 10, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Reblogged this on bearspawprint.
January 10, 2013 at 3:30 am
Amazing shots!!!
January 9, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Stunning photos of these beautiful birds.
January 9, 2013 at 5:40 pm
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Beautiful photos of one of my favourite birds.
January 9, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I GREW UP WITH ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS IN NEW YORK STATE—Jonathan
January 9, 2013 at 2:59 pm