The male Northern Harrier is called the “gray ghost” for good reason, particularly on Antelope Island. Harriers tend to be elusive and shy and the adult male with its distinctive gray plumage makes up a relatively small proportion of the overall harrier population (females and juveniles of both sexes are brown instead of gray) so finding the gray ghost in the first place is your first challenge. Getting close enough for good photos is the second. Both challenges are daunting.
Photographing harriers on Antelope Island State Park is truly a dichotomy. When they hunt the causeway they can be relatively easy to get close to. The causeway is narrow so their hunting flights are restricted to the vicinity of the road and they seem to get used to the traffic. I have many photos of harriers that were taken along the causeway.
But photographing them on the vast expanses of the island proper is another story altogether. They virtually always veer away from vehicles or folks on foot before they’re close enough for photos (I swear they love to tease photographers!). In all the years I’ve been photographing at the park I can’t remember a single instance where I was able to get quality photos of any harrier in flight in the island itself, much less of the gray ghost.
Until yesterday. And I have Mia to thank for it.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
We were photographing and scoping out other birds from the elevated road on the north side of the island when Mia said one word with urgency – “harrier!”. She had spotted this male coming up behind us (as usual we were shooting from my pickup) as it hunted the road edge. I’d have missed it altogether without her heads up. I quickly turned in my seat and was just barely able to get the angle on the bird through my window for long enough to fire off a quick burst. Two of those shots turned out reasonably well given the relatively harsh light late in the morning.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I’m quite sure that if I’d still been using my old lens (EF500mm f/4L IS I) I’d have never been able to get focus lock on the bird fast enough to get these shots but my new version of that same lens (EF500mm f/4L IS II) focuses faster and more accurately. My new lens saved the day.
With significant assistance from Mia…
Ron
You certainly had a good subject to show the work your new lens can do. Good quick reflexes too. Your 2 captures are spectacular!!
That is what is great about having a photo partner-the spotting. Plus they understand if you wander off..That truly brings out the grey in this raptor.
Congrats on the terrific captures that CERTAINLY justify the new purchase. I’m glad you are liking the new lens.
Hooray for Mia, the new lens, you AND the harrier. So, four cheers rather than three.
Gorgeous shots Ron, thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Charlotte.
Amazingly beautiful!
And even better to have justified your new purchase so perfectly. 🙂
“And even better to have justified your new purchase so perfectly”
That DID make me smile, Suze. And you’re right – I’m glad that improved performance “justifies” the expense of the upgrade.
That is a beautiful bird. And beautiful pics.
Thank you, Ed.
Ron, thanks for showing a male with actual detailed features! All my photos really do appear to be “ghosts”! Gray blurs.
We were privileged two days ago to visit Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, one of the last remnants of Florida’s once vast grass prairies, and watch as five (5!) Northern Harriers criss-crossed the grass and scrub palmetto. It was like watching an intricately choreographed low-altitude aerial ballet. They will all too soon disappear from our area as they return northward to breed. While they’re here, though, we watch in awe.
(Mia, thanks for waking him up just in time!)
Wow, Wally – seeing five harriers in flight at the same time would be pretty unusual. And entertaining, given their flight and hunting patterns that you described so well. Must have been fun!
Congratulations!! Absolutely magnificent shots of a magnificent bird! I love harriers so much. The way they fly–maneuvering just a few feet off the ground–is so wonderful to watch but also makes them hard to focus on. And they’re so fast. I’ve never gotten a good shot of any harrier, but I keep trying.
You’re right, Sharon – they’re difficult to photograph well. I work hard on this species and haven’t been very successful for many months. Thank you.