Yep, two adult redtails. The bird perched in the cliffs is not a dark morph and also has a very light chin. Since you saw two adults in the same area, they're likely a mated pair (redtails are highly territorial). Based on its compact look, the bird perched in the tree is probably the male (males being about 25% smaller than females). He just had a large meal (full crop), which may explain why he let you get fairly close.
I've been observing red-tailed hawks almost every day for a while now, so recognizing differences between individuals is pretty much automatic.
Christian thanks for the lesson!
There were others in the canyon. I shot one that looks like the RTHs we have here in TN. I'll get it posted up one day...just a crap grey sky behind him if I recall.
Many go to Bosque for Sandhills or Snow Geese. I was excited to go because I'd never imaged a NoH (Northern Harrier). E-bird had reported 4-6 of them in the immediate Bosque del Apache area...so I had hope!
I didn't expect to see a NoH dining on a Snow Goose though...doubtful the NoH took the goose, probably an eagle did the initial hit.
The dining NoH was approx 50 yards away and a big water filled canal preventing me from getting any further.
Here's a juvenile BE from Bosque a couple of weeks ago.
Using the 1.4TCiii for 700mm.
Now having gone through all the pics taken on the trip with the 500PF I can see the vast majority
was using the 1.4TC. Truthfully without the TC I wouldn't have gotten many shots.
Here's one more with the same D500+1.4TCiii+500PF combo.
I wanted to add that the distance was between 50 and 70 yards.
I wasn't expecting much due to distance/thermals/atmospherics, etc. but
I'm pleased with this shot knowing I stood there holding 700mm for 30 min's hoping and
it was bone cold to the point my fingers were screaming.
Camera Nikon NIKON D850
Lens Unknown (173) 500mm(unknown to smugmug but known to me )
ISO 1400
Focal Length 500.0 mm (500.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/5.6
Exposure Time 0.001s (1/1000)
)
