Long ago I posted some images of Northern Harriers fighting over this Mallard but I have other shots of the fracas that I’ve never posted so I thought I’d share some of them today.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
For the moment this bird has sole control over the duck but it knows the situation to be tenuous at best. The wings-out pose and fierce look are fair warning to the other harriers in the vicinity (and there are lots of them) that any attempt to share in the feast will be met with resistance.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
These birds have been starving because of a brutally cold and snowy winter so this harrier begins a frenzy of feeding in an attempt to swallow as much food as possible before other birds move in.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
And it doesn’t take long before all hell breaks loose. At this point I often wasn’t getting enough depth of field for multiple birds so decided to risk f/10 and a slower shutter speed for the rest of the session.
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
I was lacking in both shutter speed and depth of field for this shot and I’m not happy with the shadow on the face but liked the talons on the back.
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
For a few moments both birds tolerated each other on the duck but that didn’t last long…
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
before one of the harriers gave up temporarily and retreated.
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
This time around the interloper landed some distance from the duck and attempted to sneak up (very slowly) behind the other harrier. This image always brings a smile to my face.
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
But when it got close and it became obvious that the harrier on the duck wasn’t going to relinquish the prize easily it apparently decided that discretion is the better part of valor and assumed a relaxed pose while the other bird tore at the feathers and meat.
My morning with these harriers was one I’ll not soon forget, for a variety of reasons.
Ron
Very entertaining and excellent series of shots Ron, a pleasure to view.
Amazing shots! Thanks!
What a great series of photgraphs!
Another truly incredible sequence. Thank you. What a morning. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you Elephant’s Child. Yes, it was quite the morning.
Holy cow!! Ron, what an exciting series of photographs. Again, I think you worried too much about the techicalities, like the shadow on the face of one Harrier. Gosh, the viewer isn’t noticing that, as the action is too overwhelming. Beside, that is a great expression on the face of that particular bird. Wow! I am sooooo envious of the things that you get to witness. BTW, my noodle is working out good so far. 🙂
I appreciate your input Bob. Maybe I do focus on the inadequacies of an image sometimes – probably from spending too much time on critique forums in the past… I’m delighted to hear that you’re liking your new “noodle”.