“How can you just leave me standing? Alone in a world that’s so cold?…Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when hawks cry.” (Apologies to Prince for changing the words of the song “When Doves Cry.”)
On a gray, gloomy day at Huntley Meadows Park, hawks were crying out all afternoon. One hawk would start to scream and its call would be echoed back from somewhere in the distance. Sometimes I would hear a cry from the cloud-covered sky, but I never got a glimpse of the passing hawks.
I was fortunate to be in the right place when one hawk started crying. From the cry, I knew that the hawk was nearby, but I had trouble locating it as I scanned the trees. Finally I spotted it, a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). I snapped off a couple of images and then started to adjust the camera’s settings. I had barely taken the camera from my eye when the hawk took off.
The moment was gone and for a short period of time the marsh was silent.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Its good that you got a couple of shots in before it flew off. What a wonderful photograph, Mike, and a very interesting description of your encounter and the sounds they make.
Thanks, Pete. A friend of mine gave me some advice when I was first starting to get serious about taking wildlife shooting. He told me that it was best to get a few preliminary shots before moving in to try to get better shots. That way you have a better chance of not coming up totally empty-handed. Yes, I would have liked to have gotten closer for a better shot, but I am happy I managed to get the shot that I posted.
You are welcome, Mike. Actually, that is what I do with birds and insects, and suchlike, get a few shots in from a distance then gradually get as close as possible.
There is a risk involved in this approach. since the sound of those initial shots may spook the subject, but I generally accept that risk.
I can see why he was hard to find, Mike. Even without the leaves, he blends in pretty well. Great photo!
Thanks, Dan. In the winter, it’s easier to see the birds on the naked trees, but there are fewer birds to see. I sometimes wonder if all of the folks who choose to photograph wildlife are amazingly patient or a little crazy, or both.
Whatever it is, keep at it 🙂
Hawks’ cries can give me the shivers at times. When I hear them nearby, I give thanks that I didn’t come back as a rabbit this time around!
Fantastic portrait, Mike. I love that you captured it mid-shriek. We have a red-tailed hawk that often visits our back yard and it is usually that call that alerts me to its presence. I have only managed to grab a photo of it once though. Their vision is obviously far greater than mine so the bird seems to see me just getting my camera out of the drawer and it’s off. Ha ha!
I laughed when I read your comment, Laura, because I have repeatedly and generally unsuccessfully tried to sneak up on hawks and eagles. Their vision is just so much better than ours and their reaction times seem to be so much quicker than outs that it’s not a fair match. My only real hope is to catch one when it is distracted, like when it is eating.
For as hard as they are to catch for photographs you got a marvelous picture.
Terrific post, Mike. I like that you borrowed the Prince song — it’s a perfect fit. The cry of a hawk seems to go all the way to the soul. Lovely photos.
Hugs.
Thanks for your wonderful response.