When Northern Harriers choose to hunt along the edges of the dirt roads I frequent they sometimes give me interesting looks as they pass by. This is one of them.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 800, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
This male was hunting for voles along the road at Farmington Bay. Most of the time it was looking down but as it passed by quite close to me it looked in my direction for a second or two and I was able to get several shots with good eye contact.
These aren’t easy images to get when you’re shooting out of a vehicle window because of your limited shooting angle. You have to wait until the position of the bird is such that you can even see it through your lens, quickly lock focus on the bird as it passes by and hope you can keep it in the frame for a shot or two before it has traveled so far that you can no longer follow it through the window opening. If I were outside my vehicle shooting from a tripod I wouldn’t have that problem but then the bird would never have come in this close. Most birds, including harriers, are much less wary of vehicles than they are of humans on foot.
It helped that this bird was using the “low and slow” hunting technique that I’ve mentioned before.
Ron
Gorgeous!!
That’s a special shot, Ron! The Harriers are just now starting to arrive for migration. Counted 3 on Thursday and 6 yesterday. Now, if I can just get one to pose for me the way yours seem to! LOL!
Fierce look but lovely raptor!
Sensational fantastic perfection Ron! I’ve measured the SUV we have and a pick up and the windows are much higher in a pick up. You know now I want to get a pick up?
Charlotte
Fantastic shot. What a beauty!
Gorgeous bird. Gorgeous shot!
Wow! This took my breath away! Fantastic! I’m a (very) frustrated Northrn Harrier photographer (amateur) and I can really appreciate this shot.
Once again I’d like to thank others who have commented since my previous comment. I sincerely appreciate the time, effort and thought that goes into your remarks.
It is a great shot. A viewer with no other information could assume that the look was directed at the prey, not a photographer. That alters the emotional impact slightly, making it even more powerful (?).
Good point, Dave. In this shot I think he actually is looking at the bottom of my pickup but it could be interpreted that he’s looking slightly down for prey.
I am confident that you understood that you were NOT to horn in on his territory.
Stunning image, and thank you.
I stay on the road, that’s for sure, Elephant’s Child. I know my place and let them have theirs…
Very eerie picture of this bird. but a perfect photo as usual! Great eye contact!
Beautiful capture Ron.
Thank you everyone, for all of the nice comments on this image so far!
Wow! Brilliant shot Ron. Perfect timing. Almost NH season here in NJ.
It sure does look like he is giving you the old “stare down.” Great to see this photo, thank you.
Phenomenal photo, Ron. Now I know what a vole feels like when it’s under the gaze of the NH!
Amazing capture in time Ron. What beautiful color this NH has ! And again, thank you for sharing your photography methods with us.
Of course, he just missed a Vole and he’s angry and hungry!!!
Great shot as usual Ron. You captured the look of angry frustration from a beautiful predator!
Menacing indeed, beautiful photo Ron!