The red-tail had a dramatic reaction to the brazen attack from the Northern Harrier yesterday morning.
I had my lens on a Red-tailed Hawk on top of a cliff above me when the sun suddenly went behind some clouds. It was bad timing for me because that’s when all the excitement occurred. As a result I had to use some selective exposure adjustment on all five of these images to bring out the details and colors of the hawk but I thought the behavior was interesting enough to post the photos anyway.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I had seen the Northern Harrier swooping in so I focused on the perched hawk to get its reaction, if there was one. I knew I was too close to the red-tail to get both birds in the frame if the harrier came in close and even to avoid clipping body parts if the red-tail raised its wings or took off but I didn’t have time to remove my teleconverter so I dealt with the situation as best I could.
This was the initial reaction of the red-tail as the harrier approached. She flared her wings in order to appear larger and she raised the feathers on the back of her head which reminded me of the raised hackles on an angry dog.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Then she jumped straight up into the air in order to present her talons to the attacker if she needed to.
At about this point I briefly opened my left eye (the one not glued to my viewfinder) and noticed that the harrier was very close to the perched hawk but I never did get him in any of my photos.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
After the harrier passed by the red-tail parachuted back down to her original perch.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It turned out to be a…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
pinpoint landing, executed extremely well considering the circumstances.
The harrier vamoosed but some time later I saw a male harrier approaching my pickup through my windshield. I hoped he would fly to my left so I could get some shots as he passed by but instead he continued straight on toward my pickup. I’m not stretching the truth in the least when I say the harrier passed by no more than 3′ from the end of my lens poking out my window. In over ten years of photographing birds I believe it was the closest I’ve ever had a raptor of any species fly by me.
I think I know why the harriers were so aggressive toward both me and the red-tail. From what I’d seen that morning he and his mate were nesting in the nearby marshes and they apparently wanted to make life uncomfortable for both of us in case we were a potential threat to their nest.
In a perfect world I’d have had time to remove my teleconverter and those damned clouds wouldn’t have moved in front of the sun but it was still an exciting series of events and I was happy to document the defensive reactions of the red-tail.
Ron
What they said. The redtail knows what she is doing. Do you think her response drove the harrier off?
I’m not sure, Martha but I doubt it. Raptors, including harriers, often make harassment attacks like this without ever intending it to turn into an actual physical altercation. Besides a harrier would be no match for a red-tail and the harrier would know that. The harrier would probably have left anyway.
Capital WOW. I would most certainly be intimidated by the red-tail and her talons.
Brilliant series, and I feel your pain for the avian amputations you committed = and am v grateful you posted them anyway.
Thank you, EC. Given the situation those amputations were unavailable this time
The first shot makes me think of the mythological griffin. Wow! Actually, these are all “WOW!” shots. 🙂 Absolutely amazing. I sure wish you could have captured a shot of the Harrier buzzing your truck (even if soft/wings cut off/bad lighting).
Thanks, Marty. I couldn’t focus on him, not a chance. He was much too close.
Sometimes I wish I could shoot through my windshield…
Amazing series Ron! What talent you have!
Ch7
Thanks for those kind words, Charlotte.
Amazing shots. I will have to take a larger look later tonight on my computer.
Thank you, April.
I am defender of this realm
Beware these fierce and sinewed talons
Now Back to earth from whence I leapt
On point of rock where best to guard
Triumphant, I alight.
Very appropriate for the situation, Lyle.
Outstanding series Ron. She sure was ready to fight if needed. Love the last one as she settles back down after putting on a great show for the Harrier. Too bad you could not get a shot of the Harrier coming at you.
Everett, I tried to photograph the male harrier but by the time I could get an angle on him through my window he was much too close.
Wow! The drama! Your great storytelling and pictures illustrate an exciting moment of time in the life of these beautiful birds. Despite not photographing the Harriet, your description perfectly created the picture in my mind. Thanks!
Thanks very much, Sheri. It was even more dramatic to watch.
Thrilling series, Ron! Such a beautiful bird!
Thanks, Diane.
The lst photo looks like an Egyptian deity pose. She is not having it!
I see what you mean, Arwen.
WOW! Love the 1st and last photos. 🙂 Amazing how they can just go “talons up” in a flash! How frustrating not to be able to get the Harrier in either situation….. 🙁 At least the 2nd harrier didn’t take out your lens!
I tried for the male harrier, Judy. Tried a “hip shot” without looking through my viewfinder but failed miserably. Besides, the male was much too close for my camera to even focus on him.
I think this series is spectacular, too! We live in an imperfect world. And in this imperfect world, you get some stunning shots. What you do under these circumstances, to my mind, is far more significant than an importunate arrival of clouds… 😉
I try my best, Alison. Sometimes I succeed in camera, sometimes I fail miserably and sometimes I rescue images during processing. These photos are an example of the latter.
The challenge (and joy) with photography is that in an imperfect world we make it look perfect in that one frozen second of time. These and other photos on your site prove that.
Thank you, Elmer.
Great post, love the shots, and I agree with Steve that these are some of the best images you’ve taken.
I’m glad you like them, Dick. Welcome back, again. You must have been able to solve the problems you’ve been having accessing my blog. Hope so..
No, not really. I went to Firefox, and it allowed me in where Safari still keeps me out. Very frustrating!
But, hey I always go to your blog, still can do that – I simply love your shots and since you are the epitome of an honest bird/nature photographer it will be hard to keep me away!!
Sorry, meant your facebook/timeline.
These have to be the best pictures you have taken in my opinion.
Thanks, Steven. I don’t know about that but I was sure happy to get them.
Love that landing! The tail spread with the curved wing position is beyond words! In the world of ‘Bird Gynmastics’ that would be a perfect score…a 10+. You did a great job of keeping her in the frame. Kudos. don’t you just love it when nature throws you a curve ball like that at the most inoppertune time? I seem to hit those a lot.
Thanks, Kathy. More than anything I was cursing that cloud. It was sunny most of the morning but it showed up at exactly the wrong time.