Northern Harrier Hunting Goose Egg Island

Northern Harriers often hunt the perimeter of Goose Egg Island (really only a hill and no longer an island) at Farmington Bay MBA, particularly its northern side along the creek. Occasionally I lay in wait for them, using the hill to shield my pickup from their view so that they’re already in range by the time they really know I’m there. Sometimes that strategy actually works.

 

northern harrier 5676b ron dudley

1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

I photographed this harrier a week ago as it was hunting the north side of the hill. I’m sure this one knew I was there all along but it kept coming in, presumably because it didn’t want to abandon its hunting run over that vole-rich area. When it got too close to me for comfort it had two choices – veer off to its left or go over the hill to its right. It chose the latter…

 

 

northern harrier 5682 ron dudley

1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

and that choice put some trees at the top of the hill in my backgrounds just as the birds turn put better light under its wings.

 

 

northern harrier 5683 ron dudley

1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

And in the next frame the clutter of branches back there became even more pronounced. I’m not sure which I prefer – “boring” old blue sky or a busy background like this. At least there are no branches in front of the bird.

 

 

northern harrier 5697 ron dudley

1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

I did  get a couple of shots after the harrier cleared the trees and this is one of them.

I’ll admit that I have harrier images I like a little better than these but the species is such a difficult subject I’m always happy to get sharp shots of them in flight to add to my files. If the cursed clouds would ever clear out around here maybe I’d be able to pad my collection even more.

Ron

 

 

 

33 Comments

  1. Great shots! I love the disk around harriers’ faces resembling that of an owl. I hope your daughter is doing much better.

  2. They are all great but like the next to the last one the best. Something about the way its head is turned.

  3. Absolute perfection Ron – Beautiful captures of this most formidable opponent of photographers. I appreciate the beauty of a bird of prey against a pretty blue sky as much as the next observer but…. I usually prefer to see part of their natural habitat around them. As you mentioned, at least the branches aren’t in front of her. It is interesting that your captures have the branches almost lined up on the same angle as her wings. You know you planned it!

  4. I love all of the shots. The branches blend in with the coloring of the feathers, so all is well. Beautiful Hawk.

  5. Love those patterns to the plumage.
    And the trees (while busy) give a perspective…

  6. Mystery solved…Harriers don’t have legs and bison don’t have ears…except when they need them…..does anyone have a better explanation????…

  7. Beautiful! I really like the detail of the wing feather patterns. The trees in the background are a little distracting, but for me they are far less so than some of the blurry backgrounds that my eyes don’t appreciate… 🙂

  8. Wow. Gorgeous bird, great shots Ron!!

  9. Hey, Ron – this a wonderful series and although I like all of your captures, my favorite is the 3rd photo where I can see both wings coloration. Just breathtakingly beautiful (where is Patty when I want some better descriptive words)!!! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We’ve had family from CA for 8 days so I’ve only looked in on your blogs.

  10. This is an amazing series. Really enjoyed this morning’s pictures. Thank you.

  11. Thank you for the lovely Harriers this morning. They are so beautiful! I like both backgrounds equally.

  12. What magnificent shots Ron! Thanks for sharing! Any change in your daughter?

    Charlotte

  13. Exquisite photographs! I particularly like photo #2 and how the curling branches echo the arc of the wings. The expressiveness of the face on photo #3 and the spread of wings are quite arresting, too. I deeply appreciate your observations and others commentary. So much to learn from!

  14. Beautiful shots, Ron! 🙂 While branches are a bit of clutter they do give context to the shots. Almost looks like they don’t have legs when they tuck them up.

  15. These birds are fun to watch hunting…the focus and concentration they display is intense as they scan back and forth over the fields. I espcially like the way the sweep of the wing is echoed by the sweep of the branches in the third frame….

    • “the way the sweep of the wing is echoed by the sweep of the branches in the third frame….”

      Thanks for pointing that out, Patty. I hadn’t even noticed…

  16. Nice images Ron. I like the images with the background in them the best, since it conveys to me the harrier hunting low, just above the ground, and the browns of the harrier are pretty against the vegetation. Have you observed the harriers to prefer areas without phragmites ? Thanks.

    • “Have you observed the harriers to prefer areas without phragmites ?”

      Not really, Ed. They often seem to prefer hunting along the phragmites edges, particularly if there’s snow on the ground.

  17. Ron,
    Great shots of this harrier, especially the wispy wingtips in the first and last shots.

  18. Great shots Ron!! These shots show her feet tucked in the beginning of her tail coverts. Did you say Harrier feet are double jointed?
    Thought her legs were longer than that – Man, where these feet are in relation to her legs she has to be double jointed.
    Whatever the case your images certainly show a great perspective!

    • “Did you say Harrier feet are double jointed?”

      Dick, what I said (on a comment in a previous post) is that I’d read online that harrier legs are double-jointed but I didn’t know if that was accurate or not, given the fact that there’s so much inaccurate info on the web and I wasn’t sure of the reliability of the site where I found it.

      I see what you mean though, if that’s the feet we’re seeing in the 2nd and 3rd shots (maybe it isn’t…) they sure don’t seem to be far enough back under the tail.

      • I hear you about misinformation, so much of it about these days like we are invaded by bouncing balls!!!
        I was only going by the yellow projection at the beginning of the under tail coverts, just seemed a tad short relative to a Harrier;s leg length.
        I will check with Cornell.

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