The Gray Ghost Giving Me The Evil Eye

The striking bright yellow eyes of the male Northern Harrier sometimes seem to bore right through me.

 

northern harrier 5437 ron dudley1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

This image was taken two months ago along the causeway to Antelope Island. Because the mudflats a little farther out are mostly barren one can sometimes find a harrier hunting very close to the narrow road corridor where vegetation and voles are found. Though harriers are typically quite wary of vehicles some of these birds have been almost forced to become acclimated to traffic so they largely ignore passing cars. But occasionally they’ll give you their patented annoyed look and if you’re lucky enough to catch that fleeting moment with your camera the spectacular eyes of the male can be pretty intense.

Because of the background habitat and the grays and blacks in the bird there’s not a lot of color in the image so the yellow eyes and feet tug at the eyes of the viewer. And eye contact doesn’t get much more direct than this. When I get this look from a harrier I almost wish I could read its mind.

But then maybe it’s best that I can’t.

Ron

 

31 Comments

  1. Perhaps he saw your licence plate and is saying ‘That’s not a harrier. I am a harrier’ with rather more class than Crocodile Dundee could muster. And infinitely more beauty.

  2. Sharon Constant

    Fantastic!

  3. Ron, I think he’s thinking “Aw, I could take him, but by the time you get through the tough skin to the good parts they’ll be cold. Now if he had a young one with him….” Lovely portrait! Thank you for making my morning, once again!

  4. Jo Ann Donnelly

    OMG, Ron – I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that look he gave you!! Did he have you shaking in your shoes?? A majestic raptor & so glad you shared him with us today!!!

  5. One of the best ever photographs I’ve seen of any raptor!

    I know the bird was just checking you out as a potential threat, but it would be easy to read so much more into “that look”!

  6. Patty Chadwick

    Love the tiny touches of gold in this “portrait in pewter”…very, very pleasing to my eyes….

  7. Humming Bird Lover

    Hi! Great photo! I sure would not it coming after me! Have a great day!

  8. This shot made me smile. I love their ‘evil eye’ look (the intensity), and agree that it probably is better that you don’t know what they are thinking…

  9. Patty Chadwick

    “Tug at the eye of the viewer”…love that…perfect description of the interplay that happens. This beautiful bird looks like it’s made of pewter!!!

  10. Steven E Hunnicutt

    It is the eyes, yellow, intense. This is as mentioned previously a spectacular picture.

  11. Such a gorgeous creature but I’m with you. Not sure I want to read his mind. 🙂

  12. An amazing and haunting image Ron.

  13. Charlotte Norton

    Sensational shot Ron!
    Charlotte

  14. Great shot, envy, envy, envy!!!
    We had competition earlier in the year between two Gray Ghosts, but way out in the meadow. Thought that once that was resolved the male and female might nest, but my guess is that there are too many crows and ravens around. Still, too far for my lens.

    Love your shot, just magnificent!

  15. Rosalinde Weber

    spectacular shot

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