Yesterday I posted a single photo from this series and told readers I’d post the rest of them as soon as I could. Black Friday was my first opportunity.
Two days ago I found this female Northern Harrier on a low perch at an intermediate distance from the road. Her coloration was so cryptic against the setting I was lucky to have spotted her at all. As I approached I saw another photographer pass her by without even touching his brakes, almost certainly because he hadn’t seen her. That could have been me and more than once it has been in the past.
I only had time for a couple of shots before she gave me some behavioral indications of imminent takeoff.
First she pooped. Then she broke out into a long, leisurely and simultaneous stretch of four of her five extremities – both wings, her right foot and leg and her tail which is twisted far to her right side and flattened against her right wing (her tail is easier to distinguish from the wing in the next shot).
I took many photos during the languid stretch including several that remind me of….
some Batman logos I’ve seen.
The following six photos are sequential without any skips. She seemed so relaxed during the stretch that she surprised me when she hadn’t even completely finished stretching when she…
abruptly took off.at about a 45° angle toward me.
For the first wingbeat or two she was beginning to turn very slightly away from me to her right.
You knew I’d have to clip a wing in at least one shot in the series.
For some reason she shook her head in flight and then…
abruptly banked further to her right, changing her flight angle relative to me from about 45° to about 90°. This is the photo I posted yesterday.
At the end of her quick bank I kept her in frame for one more photo but her speed and flight angle had changed sufficiently and so quickly that…
I couldn’t follow her with my long lens. All I got in this last photo in the series was most of her tail.
Nope, I won’t be putting my copyright watermark on this one.
Ron
Note to photographers: Image techs for this series are in the range of 1/5000 – 1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender.
My heart is singing! Wonderful photos, Ron!
These are beautiful, I love the stretch.
I have a friend (not a pro) who has a series of “What Was There”. LOL, He tells the story of the AMAZING animal or bird, then shows you an empty frame or one much like the last one.
Super series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Your series has a few uncommon take-off photos…not just the usual flight shots. Just have to love her stretching routine…sort of reminds me of the ‘old Charlie Chaplin waddle’! There is a lot to see and appreciate in these…thanks for sharing with us!
I see what you mean about the Chaplin waddle, Kathy. Thanks.
oh how I love Harriers! lovely photos, Ron, as always….
and gotta love that Harrier yoga! 😉
Thank you, Karen.
The last shot makes me giggle; it’s the perfect cartoon ending. Thank you for sharing this glorious series with us. She is quite the beauty and I’m so glad captured her in your viewfinder.
That last shot sure didn’t make ME giggle, Marty. I have too damn many of that kind of photo!
After giving you such acrobatic moves, you can’t begrudge her one small stymie. 😉
Simply one of the most beautiful creatures in nature!
Thank you, Ron, for sharing what I suspect are, to you, very special photographs. An opportunity to spot a Harrier perched, let alone a chance to capture her take-off sequence, well – certainly would make my year!
Now, if you can just get the state of Utah to incorporate that tail feather image onto your “HARRIER” license tag!
Ha, fat chance Wally. The state of Utah finds out what my opinion is about something and then does the exact opposite. I’m convinced it’s deliberate.
What a splendid series! Your reflexes are much faster than most humans but yep, that’s exactly what I mean about our overall slowness. We can’t help it. We’re only human 😉
I’m just thankful they allow us to share their world!
Laura, I pride myself in the speed of my reflexes but I’m no match for harriers.
How I adore this acrobatic, athletic beauty. And the series.
The last shot is an avian variation of ‘flipping you the bird’ isn’t it?
Awe and wonder are the very best start to my day.
As always, thank you.
“The last shot is an avian variation of ‘flipping you the bird’ isn’t it?”
Ha, I sure wouldn’t be surprised!
Great series, Ron…..😀 Looks like she’s trying to do a figure skating maneuver in the first couple of photos…😉 They ARE cryptic at times – at least until they “flush”…….
Thanks, Judy.
Amazing photos. Thanks so much for helping me to see what I have never seen before.
Thanks, Elizabeth. And you’re welcome.
Ohmygosh how fun to see these! Having taking modern dance classes in my youth, these reminded me of that dancing! Really beautiful…I often think, oh I’d like a copy of that, but there are so many!! I just get to see them often right here. I’m thankful for them.
Best, Mary
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Mary. Thank you.
Great series. Can’t imagine someone following her without clipping a wing or two. They are one of the toughest raptors to follow period. I can definitely see photographers driving by her without ever seeing her. Cryptic indeed. Even a walking photographer might miss her. She surely does look like Batman in that one shot. Very enjoyable series of one of my favorite birds.
Thanks, Everett. I came very close to not seeing her myself.
Very nice, and very interesting. Thank you!
Thanks, Richard.
The first photo is so striking. Perhaps Ol’ Ben should have recommended this as the national bird. The next photo is a hoot: such a serious face and rather comical leg stretch. I enjoyed the last photo for its “That’s all folks” touch. Very nice follow-up to yesterday’s teaser.
Thanks, Lyle. I appreciate your comment on that last ‘photo’. For obvious reasons I almost didn’t include it.
Wow, you’re up early. I hope it isn’t because of digestive issues from yesterday’s lentil loaf… 🙂
I was already smiling and chuckling, especially at the last photo in the series (which you might rethink the copyright on because it would make a funny greeting card). Then i read your response to Lyle, and now i’m really laughing. Another good day.
I’m glad you enjoyed my response to Lyle, Nina. Couldn’t resist. I’m still trying to imagine lentil loaf…