Sometimes raptors in flight appear to play in the wind and Northern Harriers seem to enjoy it more than most species.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago the cold north wind here in northern Utah was really howling (over 50 mph in some places) and this male Northern Harrier along the Antelope Island causeway was having a grand old time in it. The wind slowed his overall forward speed so you might think that made it easier to photograph him but he was juking and jiving so much that I could barely find him in my viewfinder, much less lock focus on him. My strategy was to drive ahead of him and then wait for him to come by in good light and I did that several times but in the end I only got two images I like. All the rest were soft, or I cut off body parts, or the bird was too small in the frame or they were only “air shots” (no bird in the frame at all).
The experience was exhilarating and frustrating at the same time.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in
The background in both images is the mud flats of the Great Salt Lake. Because of recent rains there are patches of standing water out there so that’s what you see here. To some it might look like this image needs to be rotated counterclockwise because of the angle of attack of the harrier but I believe this to be close to his actual flight angle. I just happened to catch him in the middle of one of his maneuvers.
For me it was an added bonus that this bird was a male. I love photographing both sexes but I’m always delighted to photograph the Gray Ghost, especially in flight.
Ron
Gorgeous
Clever guy, you got super shots!
Charlotte
Love then both but particularly the second one. I was trying to photograph a flock of white pelicans feeding in 19 mp wind and I have lots of frames with parts of the birds. The wave action didn’t help either. You were lucky to get two beautiful shots.
Thanks, Marilyn. I’ll take luck whenever I can get it!
It’s a sheer delight to watch Harriers in the wind, but I can’t imagine what it’s like to try to catch them in photography while they’re doing it. YAY for you!! Gorgeous images!
It isn’t easy, Laura but if you try often enough once in a while you get lucky… Thank you.
Wind makes me ‘itchy and antsy’. Perhaps it is that yearning to fly…
Gorgeous image, and I am so glad you captured some of the magic (along with the frustration).
“Wind makes me ‘itchy and antsy’”
Ha, I think you truly may have some avian blood, EC…
Fantastic shots of a beautiful raptor. Still on my must-see-in-the-wild list! Thanks for sharing, Ron.
You won’t forget it if you ever see an adult male, Chris. They’re called the Gray Ghost for good reason. I wish you luck.
“I could barely find him in my viewfinder, much less lock focus on him.”
Yes, I do know that feeling pretty well. That’s what happens to me most of the time but when we are successful what a joy.
In such conditions you did it wonderfully. Very beautiful images.
Thanks very much, Jorge. Yes, most bird photographers know the frustrations we both mentioned very well.
The Gray Ghost is one of my favorites! These shots are simply magnificent!
I have seen more Harriers, both male, female and young at this location than in all other areas I’ve been in and I never get tired of it!!
But, I would need to spend more than what I have to get the lens to catch a shot like you have.
Wonderful images, many thanks for sharing!
“But, I would need to spend more than what I have to get the lens to catch a shot like you have.”
Not necessarily, Dick.
These birds hug the causeway because there are no voles out on the mudflats so you can often get close to them and don’t need to shoot using a lens as big (and expensive) as mine. Below is a link to some harrier shots I took using my old 100-400 while my big lens was in the shop.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/02/02/northern-harriers-in-flight-and-a-tribute-to-an-old-lens/
You just may have to visit Utah one day…
PS – that lens can now be had for about $700 instead of the really big bucks for a lens like mine. And that reminds me, I should get that old lens put up for sale. I sure don’t need two versions of the same lens…
Yep, I remember that post and commented that I would have to go out and buy the newer version of the 100-400. Haven’t done that yet.
I just might take you up on coming to Utah, we’ll see.
The closest I ever came to feeling as if I was flying was downhill skiing…on a wide, steep slope…epecially at the end of the day when I was allowed to “sweep” a trail and could slaalom from side to side, pausing just for the briefest of seconds at the end of each traverse, then swooping downhill to the next turn…It’s one of the main reasons I loved it so much! It must have been like the hover and swoop Judy was talking about. I still have the ocassional “ski dream—my substitute for flight. Sometimes, I got that feeling, though much more fleetingly, whitewater canoing, or riding bareback(bare-legged and barefooted) on a fast horse, galloping full out, the tall grass whipping my feet…When did I get so damned old???
Patty, IMO you are only physically old. Always young at heart. It is definitely frustrating when the body doesn’t work the way it used to, as I found out yesterday when we led a tour at the park on a chilly, windy day, and my hips were too stiff to make one of the climbs we always do for that tour… At least you have the memories of “flying” and can bask in them. Not the same as doing the activity, but the next best thing.
Patty, I know what you mean about riding horses full out and bareback. I had a horse (Star) when I was a kid on the farm – a huge thoroughbred. I never once rode with a saddle. My dad wouldn’t let me use one because he saw one of his friends dragged to death when his foot got caught in the stirrup. We never even owned a saddle. The feeling of riding full speed and unencumbered by a saddle was a lot like flying, just like you said.
Falling off at full speed was another story and it happened more than once…
Yes, but you were young and nimble!!
Dick, I usually ran that horse fast over summer fallow (freshly plowed farm land) so when I fell it was on soft ground. Still hurt though and I was lucky I didn’t break my neck. Swallowed dirt more than once though…
Hi Ron, Beautiful images of a beautiful bird! IMHO, they are field guide quality. Wonderful. And, it appears the bird might have been working off a meal – I think I detect a slight bulge in the crop, especially in the second image. Challenging conditions, but your strategy paid off! Thanks!
Cheers,
Dick
I see that slight crop bulge too, Dick. Harriers catch a lot of voles along the causeway.
I want to fly like that.
As do I, Arwen.
Gorgeous! I’ve only once seen raptors playing in the wind – our first batch of young Kestrels – and it was a wonderful experience. I’m glad you got to see this and that you shared it with us.
I see them playing in the wind often, Susan. Maybe we have more wind than you do…?
Ron, You may have more wind, but I doubt it. El Paso is famous for its winds. We have plenty of wind. I just don’t get to see birds playing in it often.
Great shots, Ron. Wind plays havoc with the camera as well as the bird! Always interesting to see how the birds navigate the wind – seem to almost hover and then “zoom” as the turn to get it at their tail. 🙂
You’re so right on both counts, Judy!
BEAUTIFUL! The incredible aerodynamics of that bird’s body is what caught my eye immediately–then the color patterns….unblemished white with jet black wing tips. followed by touches of bright. bright yellow in the eyes and the feet, then the swoopiness of the implied flight…it makes me itch to fly before the wind…
“it makes me itch to fly before the wind…”
These images give me that same feeling, Patty. It would be so damn much fun!
Beautiful Ron ! Beautiful! Love the detail on the underside of the flight feathers.
Thanks very much, Jeff. I’m glad you like the images.
Wow, what a beauty of a bird. Given the high winds, you did a fantastic job getting these shots.
Thank you, Jean. This bird was a challenge, that’s for sure.