Including some mystery “blobs”.
I’m having some serious computer problems this morning so I can’t access my image techs and I’m not even sure I’ll be able to publish this post. Any other ‘hiccups’ that show up will likely also be related to the issues I’m having.
This is an older photo of a male Northern Harrier flying east along the Antelope Island causeway. The Great Salt Lake is in the background with a narrow slice of the shoreline visible at the bottom of the frame.
When I photograph harriers along the causeway they’re usually hunting so their flight is slow. But based on his flight posture and forward-looking gaze this ‘Gray Ghost’ has his afterburners fired up with a destination in mind so I’m pleasantly surprised he’s as sharp as he is. Sometimes I get lucky.
Honestly, I’m mystified by the out of focus blobs behind the bird.
The uncropped, unrotated version of the same image shows lots of those blobs. At one time I probably knew what they were but this many years later I can’t remember. To me they don’t look like the usual suspects – other birds, chunks of ice or rocks (they’re too uniform in size to be rocks) – so for now they’ll just have to remain a mystery.
If I get my primary computer booted up soon (right now I’m on an old backup computer while my newer one is attempting to ‘fix itself’) I’ll add image techs and the date this photo was taken.
I miss photographing harriers along the causeway. If this photo was taken today there would be no lake in the background. Because of that and because of all the recent construction it isn’t just unusual to find birds along the causeway, it’s rare. I can’t remember the last time I saw a harrier along the causeway. Or even a kestrel.
This bird photographer yearns for the good old days.
Ron
Addendum:
My primary computer is now up and running. Whew!
Now here’s a coincidence. This harrier photo was taken nine years ago today, on October 10, 2012, so the blobs aren’t ice chunks.
Image techs for the photo – 1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM
Irrespective of the UAB’s, the Harrier is gorgeous and you managed a catch light to boot. Way to go.
Thanks, Lyle.
I’ve watched these birds scout a for prey…zooming so fast it seems like a a miracle thst you were able to capturd such a perfect, detailed image👏👏👏.
Thanks, Patty. I was pretty happy to get him as sharp as he is – especially given how fast he was flying.
Thanks for the photos
You’re very welcome, Richard.
Blobs or no blobs, that is one sleek Grey Ghost! Gorgeous! Interesting coincidence that it was exactly 9 years ago to the day.
It feels like even catastrophic events don’t rattle politicians or CEOs enough to make substantive changes to protect our environment. We’re dealing with an oil spill down here from a ruptured off-shore drilling pipeline. There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on, but no answers and unfortunately, no end to off-shore drilling. There’s also a hydrogen sulfide leak that’s contaminated one of the channels leading to the ocean. The poor wildlife.
Thank you, Marty.
I’ve been reading a lot about that undersea pipeline leak. It makes me so very upset and angry. The only thing that helps to lower my blood pressure lately on the environmental front is Biden’s recent actions involving Bears Ears/ Grand Staircase in southern Utah.
I love the intent harrier.
And I loathe (equally if not more) the greedy and short sighted people who impact on our lives. And even more on the lives of so many other species.
Thank you, EC.
Dried sunflower seed heads.
I miss a lot of things.
Possibly but I’m not convinced, in part because of the lack of stems that I think should still be visible even as relatively thin as they are.
Porcupine said it all for me. Great bird shot and my guess would have been vegetation too but not knowing your locale only you can be the judge of that. As for the “Easter Island” legislators it enrages, frustrates and saddens me that they can be found in almost every society and culture; Vonnegut may have had it at least partially right when he wrote Galapagos.
Granny Pat, I admire Vonnegut in many ways and I’ve read some of his work but I haven’t read Galapagos. So I just did some quick research and based on what I read it sounds like you’re right.
Sensational shots!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Having just gone to Fleet Week on Friday this guy reminds me of the U2 we got to see. Gorgeous bird, gorgeous plane😁
Ah, the U-2 and Francis Gary Powers – now there’s a memory for many of us.
Your “blobs” look like they might be grass tassels or some other dried plant waving in the foreground.
Beautiful bird.
I used to think I would like to meet the man who cut down the last tree on Easter Island and doomed his society. But now I know he walks the halls of every State legislature in out nation, draining lakes and mining mountains, and it just makes me sad. I too, long for the “good ole days”.
Porcupine, knowing the causeway as I do I doubt the blobs are any kind of vegetation. But I wouldn’t absolutely nix the idea.
Your last paragraph was very well stated, although I’d add the halls of congress to the state legislatures.
The Harrier DOES seem to be going full tilt! Nice capture! “Blobs” are a mystery and one at the left edge of the photo appears to be in motion having a “tail” so to speak.
There are times I HATE computers – hope it’s “fixed” soon!
Interesting observation about the “tail” on that blob, Judy. I can’t explain it but I’m still doubtful it’s a bird.