Rough-legged Hawk Gallery

I’ve been fascinated by rough-legged hawks since I saw my first one at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge after moving to Oregon. They winter here in the Pacific Northwest, but not in large numbers, so it’s always a treat to see one. These pictures are all from Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

A rough-legged hawk yawns at sunrise at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Is It Morning Already?

I had the chance to photograph this rough-legged hawk over several weeks as she was often hanging out near the auto tour at Ridgefield, but I wasn’t happy with the close-up shots as the skies were always a dull gray overcast. I arrived at sunrise on Saturday morning specifically with the hope of photographing her under clear skies, ignoring all of the other animals at the refuge and heading straight to where I had seen her last.

Thankfully not only did I get my blue sky, but she was waiting on a sign post near the road. There was little traffic at the refuge at that hour, so I had the chance to watch her for some time. She eventually let out a large yawn in the beautiful morning light, and I was very lucky that she turned back towards the sun when she yawned so that the sun illuminated her mouth.

I laughed to myself that perhaps I wasn’t the only one who thought it was awfully early in the morning to be out and about.

A rough-legged hawk perched in a tree at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Sunset Perch

A young roughleg perched on a mossy tree branch late in the day, watching me as I pass below on the auto tour.

A rough-legged hawk watches for voles at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Vole Watch

A rough-legged hawk keeps a close watch just below her, listening for the voles and mice that move about unseen underneath the cover of the grasses that line the edge of the marsh.

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