A recent “gray ghost” to lift my sagging spirits a little.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A week ago today I caught this male harrier hunting in one of their typical styles – flying low and slow over the vegetation in a quest for voles. So low in fact that most of his body was often far below much of the vegetation in front of him. Most hawk species couldn’t/wouldn’t hunt this low and slow for long because they’re significantly heavier and not agile enough at flight speed to avoid all the plants sticking up at varying levels. Red-tailed Hawks for example are about 2.6 times heavier than harriers (1080 grams vs 420 grams).
But by dodging, weaving and juking this guy kept it up for a good long time. His erratic flight sure made him difficult to track with my lens though, especially with all the vegetation around him.
There’s no question that I have better harrier photos than this but it gives me much-needed hope and motivation. Because of cloudy weather with its attendant poor light I haven’t been out shooting for a week now and the last few times I have ventured out I’ve been skunked or damned close to it. It’s been both discouraging and depressing. There was actually a short window of decent light yesterday morning but unfortunate timing meant I couldn’t take advantage of it. More frustration.
And right now at least the weather for the next week doesn’t look to be much of an improvement so I hope you’ll bear with me if I continue to post more older photos than usual for a few days.
Wishing for light and birds! And a little snow on the ground would help too.
Ron
PS – As I put the finishing touches on this post at 4:30 this morning it’s snowing and it’s sticking! Snow on the ground brings more raptors into the valleys so I’m a little more optimistic than I’ve been in a while.
Great photo of the Grey Ghost as he swoops low listening and looking for that next meal. My favorite of the raptors,
I have the pleasure to document one of the migrants who winters here in North Texas for a second season now.
This particular one arrives in October, staying until early March before going back North.
He is a beauty and a spirit lifter, for sure! I have to admit, I’m surprised to learn how much lighter NOHA is than RTHA … but thinking upon its hunting habits, it all makes perfect sense, of course, so thanks for the enlightenment. Fingers are X’d your weather continues to improve for your own happy hunting. 😉
I knew they were significantly lighter but I was a little surprised it was as much as it was. Thanks, Chris.
Love this shot! We’re socked in with fog here in SW CT.
Thanks, LS. Fog screws my shooting up quite a bit in the winter. Comes with the season around here.
What a great shot of this bird. They eyes surely look like he is on the hunt.
We got more snow in our yard overnight and the mountains are building their base. Unfortunately not much sun in the forecast.
Thank you, Ron
Yup, he has his eye on the potential prize, Alice. Thanks.
Gorgeous boy! Love the pop of yellow from the eye and nares. I can feel the intensity — I’d hate to be a vole around this guy.
Hope the sticking snow is a good omen for you, the birds, and the GSL. We are finally getting a bit of cold weather (cold for us, at least); had to get a sweatshirt out last night. This morning was cool, windy and clear. We were the only ones braving the outside tables at our bagel place.
Thanks, Marty. It’s sticking enough that I’m about to go out and do some shoveling. Not much though.
Be careful! We value your back! 🙂
And the rest of you too.
Thanks! 🙂
I do hope that your spirit is able to soar (or glide) with the raptors again soon.
And snow? Colour me jealous, as fires burn this way.
Our fires are finally contained, but now we have rain coming through the burn areas last week and this coming week. Not a good combo.
Not to worry, EC. I’ll survive. I guess I just like to bellyache. And good luck with your fires!!!
Ron, not sure it makes you feel any better, but we all go through the bad weather blahs. It’s usually when Fall and Winter months make their presence known, though Winter does seem to have slightly better photo ops over the long haul. I had the good fortune yesterday to capture a Short-eared Owl in daylight here in Texas, though we are not used to them playing outside when the sun breaks the horizon. Part of that was the terribly poor light I had to play with (no sun). Absolutely dreary with a lingering light fog with no sun evident. High ISO stuff while shooting a very maneuverable subject in the distance. When it did come somewhat close, AF on my 5D MkIV struggled to stay painted on the eye. Those flapping wingtips and Harrier like movements down low make for challenging captures. All this to say…we understand your pain. It will soon pass.
Thanks, Doug. I hope you’re right about it passing soon. I can take the cloudy weather in winter. I’m used to it after all these years. What disturbs me most is very few birds when it finally does clear up. That’s just not normal…
Hooray for a spirit uplifter! He’s a beauty.
Thank you, Arwen.
Still my favorite bird .. and male to boot!! Great capture . I chased one for half an hour racing down roads trying to get a bead on him .. Raptor population is good here .. plus the cranes are here by the thousands .. always welcome to come visit here..
Thanks for the invitation, Marina. I’m jealous of all your raptors. And cranes…
Come visit you have relatives in montrose ! The cranes are around Delta by escalator reserve ! Hawks and harriers and kestrels all there
Any day you get a Gray Ghost in the viewfinder is a wonderful day!!
Good point, Keith.
Hello ABQ! 🙂 I’m heading to Rio Rancho in a month if all goes well. 🙂
Wonderful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
A beautiful image in it’s hunting mode! Photographing the male is special. They are a very predictably unpredictable bird aren’t they! Just when you think they will hover they dive. ..but what a joy to watch. If I were to guess I have to say I see one ‘Grey Ghost’ for every seven to eight brown ones; I wish they were more plentiful. Birding has been slow here also, dark grey skies, not very many special birds yet and now heavy wet snow today. Seems like the best days occur when I’m away. The snowy owls have begun their return but I just can’t make myself search them out. So many are after them you need a ‘dance card’ and wait in line to get a photo.
“predictably unpredictable”
A perfect description of their flight pattern, Kathy.
To be perfectly honest I’ve been oversaturated with seeing Snowy Owl photos for several years now. And the unruly and often unethical crowds they attract tend to color even the non-baited photos I like (through no fault of the bird of course).
Not to say I wouldn’t be ecstatic to see one around here, photos or not! A few years ago there was one spotted along the causeway to Antelope Island and I’d been out there earlier that morning but apparently it wasn’t there at that time. That was a bummer.
Nice photo. Caught at a great moment!
Thanks, Joanne.
NICE! It is amazing how low and slow the “Gray Ghost” can go……. 🙂 Still “dead” around here bird wise tho GHO’s are in the yard and “talking” so, hopefully, they will nest in the yard this year again – missed not having them last year… Hope your photography “weather” and number of subjects improve with the snow you’re getting. Yes, coffee is the first order of the day after hitting the can! 😉
“It is amazing how low and slow the “Gray Ghost” can go”
Isn’t that the truth. Their skinny bodies just seem to bob and weave, almost in slow motion. And then they turn on the afterburners when they dive on a vole beneath them.
Yes, “hitting the can” certainly comes first! Thanks, Judy.
Oh my! Just stunning… thank you for making my day again Ron.
Thanks, Donna.
Great photo because it’s so typical of harriers, and so difficult to get. And you managed to focus under those circumstances!!!
Thanks, Nancy. I have a bunch that were soft but in this situation it pretty much comes with the territory.
OMG, Ron – what a beauty!! You know the other “Gray Ghost” photos you’ve taken that you like better but I just have this one in front of me & s/he takes my breath away!!! Hope the snow brings you lots of great photography moments – I don’t want you to be so bummed out!! I know how that feels!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Jo Ann. That and the snow outside helps!
Beautiful photo Ron. Love Harriers and love the determined look in his eye. Was just going to make my coffee, but figured I might as well try to do the first post on an early Sunday morning.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I can’t even find my computer before I’ve poured a cup, Everett! Thanks.