When it comes to catching an uncooperative meal, whatever works.
- I posted a few other shots of this bird recently but this one is new to my blog.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A few weeks ago at Farmington Bay WMA I came across this male Northern Harrier on the ground as he was attempting to capture a vole. It was obvious that the hawk knew the vole was there but it was hidden beneath the thick, snow-matted grasses and for some reason it didn’t want to be caught.
The harrier knew where it was but had a hard time getting his talons on it so he kept stabbing at the grasses with his feet as the vole scurried around beneath them. The end result was that it almost looked like the hawk was dancing with his wings out. It was fun to watch but because of the grasses it was difficult to get clear shots of the performing hawk. At least I got a good look at his eye in this shot – usually I didn’t because he was nearly always looking down and/or had his back to me.
Eventually he caught the vole but he walked it into even deeper cover before gobbling it down so my photos of him consuming his meal aren’t very good.
Maybe I’ll have those gory shots for you next time…
Ron
Harriers are striking looking birds. No pun intended.
I like Dave Brooks statement “recurring irrational hope that the images would somehow, magically be good.” Yep, know that feeling!
So do I, April. All too well.
This shot seems like a fun one to play “caption this” with. The possibilities are endless. For some reason, “Ta daa!” keeps popping into my head. 😉
Another grey and rainy (greyny?) day here in SoCal. Love the rain, but wish the flares didn’t accompany it these days. On the bright side, I could rent myself out as a human barometer. 😎
Caption away, Marty. Raining here now too.
This is always so hard for me! I want the best outcome for both…the vole to get away safely and the raptot to catch its dinner…I can’t have it both ways…wish the hawk was a vegan…
A vegan raptor. Now there’s a thought!
Great shot, Ron. Reminds me of the classic disco pose; “ah-ah-ah-ah stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive”.
Ahh, the brothers Gibb. Thanks, Lyle.
Excellent photo Ron….I have to steal Arwens words…”I love the intensity”…that was my first thought looking at this image…this shot also gives us a great look at those impressive wings…..on another note, I would like to say that after what you’ve gone through this winter I think you deserve to sleep in a little..:-)
I’ve done my share of sleeping, Steve. Just now got up from a nap too.
Sweet pic Ron. Way to go.
Thank you, Bradley.
How fun! 🙂 Looks like someone trying to scare something off (like a bear) or a “gotcha!” 🙂 Beautiful and persistent bird – when one is hungry!
Thanks, Judy.
Fantastic shot Ron!!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Great shot Ron. That look in the eye is determination. A whole different world than ours where we waltz into our local restaurant and have our cup of coffee while waiting for them to bring our breakfast. He gets that vole or he doesn’t eat. I am envious of your having the Grey Ghost. As I mentioned before, here we have only had the brownish Harriers for the past eight or so years. I love them as they are, but would love to see a grey one sometime.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett. I’m not sure why we have as many adult males as we do. Many folks in other areas seem to rarely see them but around here they’re pretty common. Doesn’t make much sense.
This is such a great shot. I love the posture of the harrier as you have captured it here. And well told.
Out on the west coast of northern California, it seems like we’ve had rain all of February and it’s still coming down. I went out in dismal light last Sunday and bumped into a harrier, peregrine and a golden eagle and of course all of the images were of poor quality due to the light, but I couldn’t stop shooting because I had this recurring irrational hope that the images would somehow, magically be good. Maybe I’ll learn yet.
“but I couldn’t stop shooting because I had this recurring irrational hope that the images would somehow, magically be good”
There has to be a little of the eternal optimist in all good bird photographers, Dave. Without it, in conditions like that, we’d miss that million dollar shot that unexpectedly turns up every hundred years or so!
I love his intensity. Everything is focused on breakfast. I know that feeling. 😀
Now that made me smile, Arwen. And hungry.
That photo makes me imagine the situation from the vole’s perspective– it would be like having a giant cargo plane performing “touch-and-goes” on top of you—
but those beautiful wings would make for a magnificent last sight……
“but those beautiful wings would make for a magnificent last sight”
Ha, the proverbial silver lining!
Neat photo! He is a beauty. That eyesight and hearing has to be so sharp to find their prey in deep cover plus their determination. I’ve been watching RoughLegged Hawks doing the same thing these past few weeks only our grasses are buried in snow that is ‘knee deep’ for them. Their dancing and pouncing is almost a show unto itself and well worth the wait! -9 degrees this a.m., actual temp and fortunately the wind has died down. Perhaps the time change this week-end will encourage spring to begin…
You’re right, Kathy – roughies sometimes perform similarly.
50 degrees here right now and we’re supposed to have rain for a day or two before it turns to snow. Somewhere there’s a sun out there, there just has to be.
I’m not looking forward to the time change in some ways. I’ve developed the bad habit of sleeping in this winter and that’s going to have to change.