‘Blue’ seems to be a theme in my photos lately.
Yesterday morning was sunny and cold with bright blue skies and a stiff north breeze blowing – in my experience, those are perfect conditions to turn standing water into an intense blue color. Throw about a half dozen Northern Harriers of both sexes and various ages into the mix and you have a recipe for some exciting times for this bird photographer. It took some creative driving but I got quite a few photos I like.
The harriers were hunting along the shore, so in many of my shots there was mostly very blue water in the background. Because of the wind direction, they typically had their backs turned partially to me so I really struggled to get good looks at their faces with eye contact but I had enough chances to get lucky occasionally.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This adult male was one of my successes. He briefly looked my way as he cruised by, but most of the time he was looking away from me and down as he searched for voles on the ground. He caught one while I was with him but he immediately took off away from me so all I got was butt shots of him with the vole.
These three photos are sequential shots in a burst.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
In all that blue, his yellow eye stands out like a beacon.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I was pleased to get three different wing positions in the three sequential photos. Usually, their flight postures would be nearly identical.
After the kingfisher photo I posted two days ago where the bird was bathed in blue light, today’s post may be overdosing my readers on blue. But all I can do is post the photos I take and lately, blue seems to dominate.
Ron
Sheesh, thanks to friend Steve Creek, I now know that part of the blue in these photos was due to incorrectly set white balance. Everything was blue but apparently not this blue. First time that’s ever happened.
It’s your Blue period. 🙂
SO GOOD – and BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing your talents.
I love your kingfisher photos, but I really love your harrier photos. Getting them back-to-back is awesome. And I really like the blue shades. Maybe just call it a “well-set” white balance.
Bill, I don’t know what’s going on with my R5. Lately it seems to have a mind of its own regarding camera settings – first it was aperture and now it’s white balance. Pisses me off.
Yeah, random equipment problems like that are really annoying. Might be worth an inquiry to Canon on whether others are having similar issues.
What a stunning series – even if it was a ‘balance’ issue.
I do like your blue period. That is definitely a piercing gaze. I am so glad I am not a small rodent.
“I am so glad I am not a small rodent.”
I am too, EC, although I’m sure glad to have them around again. For several years, voles have been quite scarce around here. But this year seems noticeably better in that regard.
Gorgeous! The “incorrect” setting makes for some beautiful art! Was you head spinning, seeing so many wow-making harriers flying around???
Thanks to Marty K for the reminder about emergency prep, especially working with the big animals – the stories out of California are just heartbreaking.
“Was your head spinning, seeing so many wow-making harriers flying around?”
It truly was, Carolyn. I haven’t had that much fun with that many harriers for many years.
I like it. That first one is my fav; got that peekaboo look.
Must be your ‘blue period’. Have to start calling you the Picasso of avian photography!
Michael, the only thing Picasso and I usually have in common is big ears.
I’ll take the blue, even if it’s a settings issue! 💙 Not much blue to see here right now, unfortunately.
Ron, if I may, to our community here: Please have an emergency/disaster plan in place and a “grab-and-go” kit with papers, meds, etc. Include pet items — crates/carriers, extra leashes, collars, harnesses, basket muzzles, meds, toys, treats, vaccine records, etc. Please practice crating your animals (lots of treats help!). For large animals/livestock, please practice trailering them regularly and have other people handle them and get them into unfamiliar trailers so that emergency crews can rescue them if you can’t.
And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. 💙
My heart goes out to everyone (definitely including the birds and animals) affected by those dreadful fires.
Thanks, EC. And to your communities as well. 💜
Marty, thanks for the timely advice regarding emergencies/disasters.
Beautiful raptor! Love their white butts.
So do I, Cathryn – when it get them exposed properly in my photos.
I happen to really like gray on blue (especially Gray Ghost) … this is a very “cool” series, and with such a fabulous raptor, you cannot go wrong!
Thanks, Chris.
Those different wing positions make for a terrific series. As for that eye: I’d not like to have it fixed on me.
I feel the same about that eye, Shoreacres – at least if he had me in mind as prey.
Really lovely photos. The blue works for me!!
Good. Thanks, Joanne.
Beautiful! The eye certainly does stand out…… 🙂 The lighting makes a major difference.
We’ve had a couple of them around in the past couple of weeks eyeballing the finches. Size and the white band at the base of their tail are “identifiers” for me. 😉
Thanks, Judy. Their white rump patch is an excellent field mark, but it can be a difficult exposure in photos.
White balance thing “worked” in this case – good to know before it got into something it REALLY didn’t need to be in! 😉