This is another image of the harrier with an unusual tail feather (I posted a different photo showing this feather on Jan. 21).
1//2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM +1.4 tc, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this bird as it was hunting along the Antelope Island causeway on January 20. It’s common for harriers to have two darker central tail feathers but this bird has only one, indicating that it was damaged and replaced out of the normal molt cycle. I like the light, the good look at most of the dorsal plumage, the flight posture and the light but I do wish for more light in the eye.
I took this image with my old 100-400mm lens and attached 1.4 teleconverter while my 500 f/4 was in the shop and before I purchased the new version of this lens. It was a reminder that even that older lens with the tc attached is capable of taking some pretty decent photos.
I’ve been posting a fair number of harriers recently and part of the reason for that is that bird photography opportunities are unusually limited around here right now. I believe that a primary reason (though not the only one) for the lack of opportunity is our recent extended period of alarmingly warm weather. I saw 73 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday and we surpassed the previous Salt Lake City record (set in 1886) by 4 degrees. And that pattern continues. Many of our migratory raptors (including Bald Eagles) have apparently left the area and it’s too early for most migrants coming north.
There’s virtually no ice left at the refuges, the snow level on the mountains is receding fast and things are already greening up in the valleys. Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area has actually had to announce that due to a lack of elk and snow (they use sleighs to haul visitors to the elk herd) they will have to close for the season tomorrow. Usually they remain open until March.
I really don’t like this weather pattern.
Ron
global warming, ya’ll…..it’s called global warming…
everywhere birds are being ‘confused’ by the changing global weather patterns
which are occurring compliments of homo sapiens.
and just to add, how i love this blog and the photos. they are a gift each
day that i receive them! THANK YOU, Ron!
Thank you, Karen. (note that the tags at the bottom of my post include “global warming and climate change”…)
An almost tactile shot. Love the plumage detail, and the curl and flare.
Weather fluctuations are scaring me over this way too. So much.
Thanks very much, EC. Me too…
Ron, an absolutely gorgeous capture of this animal, stunning with a catch light in the eye for sure.
I’ve a quick question? Many places I’ve been to in Az and NM where people with long lens photographing birds were also using Better Beamer’s on full sized flashes, and I’m assuming that practice is to make sure they get that Catch Light in the eye? Have you ever shot that way, not that you need to of course, LOL.
And I’m a transplant from CA so if your weather is too warm for you I hate to say it but it just might be the New Normal!
Thank you, Alan Kearney
Alan, most folks use flash to either make up for poor light or to freeze fast action (as in the wings of hummingbirds in flight). Personally I think it’s bad manners to flash a bird, bordering on rude, and I NEVER do it. IMO, flashing owls at night should be illegal (harassment). Besides, almost without exception (to one degree or another) flashed light looks harsh and/or artificial in bird photography (it fills in all the fine, subtle but natural shadows on feathers for example). Catch lights produced by flash also have an artificial look. I don’t even own a flash (except for the one built in to my camera).
Thanks for the reply Ron. I don’t use a flash anymore and I don’t own a Better Beamer or other extension.
Last summer I learned the hard way about flash and owls. During the day a Spotted Owl was “camped out” in a tree just 100 yards from my front door, I live in a town home community in Tucson. I went out to photograph it and it choose to ignore me or was asleep, either way I wasn’t getting any pictures with eyes open. In my own interest in getting the picture, and not thinking it through, I mounted my big flash and fired away. The Owl looked right at me while I was doing this!
It was daytime, I just didn’t think I’d be hurting it so I took flash pictures until a group of “birdrrs” asked me to stop using the flash.
Moral of the story, just about everyone that I hoped would like the picture (animal photographs themselves) hated what I done and wasn’t afraid to tell me to my face, I felt terrible, but I learned a valuable lesson!
Alan Kearney
Thanks VERY much for relating that story, Alan. I think a lot of folks (at least initially) flash owls without thinking of the implications. Doing it at night is much, much worse and many photographers do that regularly. Shameful and selfish behavior, IMO…
I love the detail of this shot. Admittedly a catch light would be nice, but I had to look hard to see that it was missing. The rest of the detail is all I noticed initially, and the lack of catch light still makes no difference, even after studying the image for a while.
Thanks, Susan. I think the eye ring helps to define the eye here and makes up partially for the lack of light in the eye. Sure would have preferred one though…
For a painter, this shot is a great gift re:feather pattern detail…couldn’t get much better…”winter” weather patterns worrisome…..
I always enjoy getting your artistic impressions, Patty. Thank you.
The weather is alarming, isn’t it, Ron. I hope it’s just a fluctuation but fear it’s more. Gorgeous bird though.
Yes, it is, Arwen. And I fear the same thing you do.
Magnificent shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.