Birds and their feathers continue to surprise me with what they can do when they need to.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400 mm, not baited, set up or called in
I spent some quality time yesterday morning with this very cooperative Northern Harrier as it was preening on a fence post in Box Elder County.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400 mm, not baited, set up or called in
Here it’s raising its foot in order to scratch the right side of its face. The bird was very involved in its scratching and preening when suddenly…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 248 mm, not baited, set up or called in
its attention was drawn to some prey item it apparently heard scurrying around in the tumbleweeds almost directly beneath the post. It watched and listened for some time as the prey (I suspect it was a vole) moved from place to place.
At this point I remember wondering how the harrier would make such a quick, tight turn if it took off after the vole that was so close to the fence post (and how I should prepare for it as a photographer). And take off it did. I only got one shot of the launch but in it I found something quite unexpected.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 248 mm, not baited, set up or called in
Look at the shape of that right wing. I didn’t think a wing could be twisted into such a shape – it almost reminds me of that ribbon candy we used to get at Christmas as kids.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 278 mm, not baited, set up or called in
The harrier did catch the prey but I was never able to positively identify it. This was the clearest look I got of the bird as it was consuming its meal beneath the post. After this shot I drove down the road and left the harrier to finish its meal in peace.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 248 mm, not baited, set up or called in
Back to that earlier image. A large crop of the takeoff shot gives us a better look at the twisted shape of that right wing. Personally I’ve never seen anything like it from a raptor at takeoff. I suspect it somehow allowed the very quick aerial maneuver required to attack the vole so near the launching point – the takeoff was extremely quick and powered and not a relatively slow, gentle launch.
All this may be esoteric enough to be of interest only to me since I do sometimes tend to dwell on minutia. But every time I look at this photo I wonder “How did the bird do that?”
Ron
Note: The forecast for up north finally calls for an extended period of good weather and light so you guessed it – Montana is calling me. I leave this morning for a camping/photo trip to my beloved home state. While I’m gone I’ll likely have intermittent and unreliable internet access but I’ll try to continue to post daily. I’ll get the email versions of any comments made but responding to them is often difficult or impossible. Wish me luck, I hope I find some interesting birds!
It’s a beautiful photo and a crazy photo. I also would love to know how they did that. When you pull out the wings of a bird the frame seems so rigid and unbendable. I would send this to an expert to get an opinion.This Harrier does appear, to me anyway, to be a more mature bird so maybe with age the wings get more pliable unlike humans who get stiff and brittle. I tried to see if I could do it on my bird and did not come even close. She wasn’t too happy about it either. I, for one, would love to know how he was able to position his wings in that position. Thanks Ron. Enjoy your trip.
Just FYI, I’ve long since ago stopped thinking that they-can’t-possibly-do-that thing. They can, and when necessary, do 😉
Hope your travels are safe and productive. I went to PA yesterday and picked up a nine-week-old Brittany puppy. Those naps I used to take? Yeah, they’re done for a while. 😉
In my dreams,I rarely get them close here in the northeast. A beautiful series, Ron, as usual! Thank you!
Happy travels!
Wow.
That bird obviously does yoga. Lots and lots of yoga.
Have a wonderful time away.
I find that wing twist very confusing…can’t figure out what or how it’s happening…looks impssible to me!!! Maybe I’m missing something…..
Your shots are simply astonishing, thanks so much for sharing! Best Harrier shots I’ve ever seen!
Charlotte
Safe travels, Ron. I appreciate your photos and observations. Take care!
The harrier is by far my favorite bird. So beautiful!!! I noticed you used your 100-400 lens?????
I was too close for the 500mm, Marina.
Ron, I hope you have a great time up in Montana and enjoy the weather.
Wish I was going to be with you because it’s beautiful country and here in the Phoenix Arizona area it’s going to be 113° this coming weekend
It is amazing. Wonder if that is a “natural thing” that all can do when needed or something this bird has perfected to better his hunting skills
Good question, David. I dunno… Thanks for the good wishes. Highs are supposed be in the upper 70’s where I’ll be.
After studying the closer crop, it looks to me like both wings are quite twisted. It is amazing to think that a bird could do that. Clearly this bird has learned how to do what it takes to catch prey. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Montana with plenty of interesting birds.
Agreed, Susan – both wings are twisted but the right one looks most extreme to me. Thank you.
I’m a newcomer to bird watching and this photo confuses me. There’s a group of brown feathers visible between the right and left wing — are they part of the tail, or are they lifted covert feathers from the left wing? Have to say I love your blog, both for the beautiful photos and the fascinating “minutia” on bird behavior.
Cindy, I’m pretty sure they’re the lifted coverts of the left wing – we can’t see the tail. Thank you for enjoying “minutia”…
That’s crazy how flexible that bird is. But for the maneuvering, I guess it makes sense. 😀
“That’s crazy how flexible that bird is”
It definitely got my attention, Arwen.
Wonder about aerodynamic effect of the contorted right wing. Any aero- engineers with a take?
Safe travels Ron 🙂
Thanks, Zaphir.
WOW! I don’t think of birds having that kind of flexibility! Great Shot, Ron! 🙂 Yes, MT is supposed to have some nice weather for most of the next week after a rainy (much needed) spell. Enjoy! 🙂
That’s flexibility in spades, isn’t it, Judy?