I don’t post perched Northern Harriers often because they’re usually partially hidden in vegetation or the perch is an unattractive one. Add to that the fact that they’re very nervous birds and typically won’t let me get close. In the rare case where I can approach the bird, nervousness is usually readily apparent.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
But three days ago this male made an exception for me. It was a cold morning and I guess he just didn’t feel like flying in the frigid air so he allowed me to approach reasonably close. The icing on the cake was that he was on a pleasing perch, in good light and I liked the natural setting and relaxed pose. I was also hoping for some take-off shots but when he launched he headed almost straight for me and I lost focus on him.
Ron
He’s so beautiful! I long to see one like that (I hope to see one almost every time I go out). I’ve only ever seen an adult male harrier once. He was flying so, so far away that at first glance, I thought he was the seagull that I had seen bickering with a female harrier on the ground earlier that day. The seagull was trying to steal some of the harrier’s lunch. (Seeing a seagull and a harrier together seemed a bit incongruous to me but I was at Vic Fazio Wildlife Reserve in the Yolo Bypass which is smack-dab in the middle of the pacific flyway and one sees wonderful things there).
Congratulations on your most wonderful sighting and beautiful image.
Sharon, I mix the males up with gulls occasionally too, until I see that white rump patch. Thank you.
Wonderful! I’ve never really been able to approach a perched harrier either, and all I really get is a head sticking out of the grass. Nice shot!
Scott, When I think of “skittish” I think of harriers first. A frustrating species, for sure.
Wonderful shot! The pose is incredible!
Thank you, Charlotte. For me, the relaxed pose is the strongest aspect of the image.