I was out over the New Years holiday stick of all sticks, and a few of us were cruising in "Sweet Spot 1" I call it. It is a nice area that I found years back that has some sweeeeet dunes. So, I GPS'd it and appropriately called it, Sweet Spot 1. I know you have had a hard time getting shots of Mr. Red, and I have to. However, we were cruising, and I came upon him sitting on a ridge. I tried walking as close as I could, and he let me get a couple shots of him. The funny thing is, before we left camp, I told myself that I wouldn't need my zoom lenz, so I didn't take it. What a stupid ais. This is the closest I've ever gotten to him while he was sitting (although Rivermobster and I got way closer on Poker Run weekend, he was hovering above us and we were riding at the time). If I would've had my 300mm zoom, I could've zoomed in and seen the color of his eyes. I had a standard lenz, and did my best. Check it out.

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However, I finally realized what Mr. Red was doing. He was scoping out a spot for JonJon to catch a little air, and soar in the wind with him. Mr. Red knows the good spots, and he was there to point it out to us. Thanks Mr. Red, you are one cool dude.
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Very Nice pics brudda... I can only hope that one day I am blessed enough to catch a glipse of Mr Red in person...

as for that jump! totally sweet!!! I will never be able to do that!!!

Damn I love those Red Tail Hawks!!

Wish I would have had my camera a couple of trips ago. We were riding through the dunes and Mr. Redtail was flying right above us. he was following us as we were riding, it was awesome!!! That hawk was duning right along with us, and he had some skills!!!!!

Thanks for the pics Samplr!!

I was leading a group out in the morning after it rained all night a couple of weeks ago. We were leaving the first tracks in the sand, and just tearing up the ridge line from gecko down past roadrunner. When we stopped for a break, there was a redtail sitting on a dune very much like your photo. The amazing part was when he took off, and flew directly over us around ten feet off the ground and just kinda hovered due to the strong breeze. He did this for almost a miniute, without moving more than a foot in any direction. His tail feathers were constantly changing trim to keep him motionless. I could kick myself for not having a camera with me. It made our day.