Soaring Above Cades Cove

“Soaring Above Cades Cove”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

A female Northern Harrier soars above the snowy mountains in Cades Cove, Tennessee.

 

Many people don’t go to the Cove in the winter and miss seeing so much beauty. Yes, the Bears are enjoying their winter rest, but they, too, still come out here and again. I’ve photographed one standing in it.

 

I love the winter visitors to the Cove—not the human type, but Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. I love photographing them. They are hit and miss—they’ll be out, and some days, they are hiding.

 

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https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com/

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

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Perfectly Perched!

“Perfectly Perched!”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

On this snowy day in Cades Cove, the skies were blue, and I was excited to photograph anything in the snow. I found a hawk on Hyatt Lane and pursued him as he perched in the trees. 

Even though the trees did not have snow in them, I was thrilled to photograph him. He was checking me out!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Check Out My Legs!

“Check Out My Legs!”

Cooper’s Hawk – eyas

I saw the Cooper’s hawk building this nest a while ago, so I decided to photograph it the last few times I was at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

The eyas (a.k.a baby hawks) were very active. I thought one was going to fledge, but after a closer look, I still see a lot of pin feathers.

Location: Athens, Georgia

Resting?

"Resting?" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

There are nice wooden benches located throughout the State Botanical Garden of Georgia for resting and enjoying the beauty of the garden. This hawk found one to perch on.  

Location: Athens, Georgia 

Winging It

"Winging It" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I got a new camera recently. Within about five minutes of having my camera, my husband noticed a hawk fly by in front of our house. He said its wingspan was huge.

He told me where it flew, and I headed down the street to find it. The hawk was perched in my neighbors tree. 

I began to take photos of him, but my new camera was a little different than my other one. I did not know how to change the dials yet, so I just winged it.

I went back to my neighbor's house and measured how tall the hawk was compared to the markings on the tree near his head. He was 14 inches tall from his feet to his head! 

What?!?

What?!? 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

It always amazes me the fortitude and courage it takes small birds to stand up to a much larger bird.  The smaller bird knows it can be eaten, but dive-bombs the predator.  This behavior is known is "mobbing" and is typically done in attempt to drive the predatory bird out of a breeding territory or nonbreeding territory, to protect its nest/young or its food source.  Mobbing is used to drive a predator away instead of harming them.

The smaller birds are usually more agile and can quickly get away when mobbing a large bird.  The larger bird may flee instead of expending so much energy to chase the small bird.  

Location:  The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Show-off

"Show-off"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I enjoyed teaching my class "Where do the hummingbirds 'hide' at the Botanical Garden" this past Saturday morning.  I reminded the attendees about photographing the "in-betweens" .....the wildlife at the garden we can photograph while waiting for the hummers.  One of the photographs I showed them during the presentation was of the Red-tailed hawk.  

After the class, we headed to the Hummingbird Trail to find the hummingbirds. We found them, but the highlight for us all was probably the resident hawk that had to show off to the group and let us photograph him up close while he was on the trellis.  

Location:  Athens, Georgia

Resident Hawk

"Resident Hawk" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

This hawk lives at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and is not bothered at all by humans.  I know several people that have photographed him from very short distances.

He has several perches where he loves to hang out, and I knew just where to look for him this morning.  As I was walking down a path near one of his favorite perches, he flew overhead to a  large patch of very tall grass and attempted to pounce on something.  I hurried closer, and he sprung up in the air and pounced once more.  Whatever he was after, he did not get because he flew up to his perch in the tree.  He sat there undisturbed as I took my photographs!  He did not want to disappoint!

Steadfast

"Steadfast" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

I found this hawk last night as my husband and I were driving around Daniel Island, South Carolina while I was looking for birds to photograph.  This hawk was sitting in the tree as we were about to drive by.  We stopped the car, and I slowly crept towards him.  Funny thing is he was steadfast on staying on that limb.  After I finished photographing him, I came back later and he was still there.  He must have been there for over 30 minutes.

Again, I asked the Lord to bring to me or help me see what HE wants me to photograph.  I'll take it!

Tightrope Acrobat

 

Tightrope Acrobat

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

My husband saw this Red-tailed Hawk (immature) on our trip back home yesterday.  My family helps me with my photography by spotting things for me.  We turned back around, and I started taking pictures of him while my husband kept moving the car closer and closer.

 

 

He then flew to the top of a power pole.

 

 

 

I was interrupting his dinner plans.

 

 

 

He was keeping a close eye on me.

 

 

He flew across the road and landed on a tree.  We moved closer, and he had enough and finally flew out of sight.

 

Location:  Watkinsville, Georgia