Sometimes wind is the bird photographer’s friend.
Eleven days ago there was a brisk and very cold north wind blowing along the Antelope Island causeway, which turned out to be nearly ideal conditions for photographing the several Northern Harriers that were hunting along the shore. Harriers like to frolic in the wind and flying into the wind slowed them down, making them an easier target. And on this morning at least, they seemed less nervous about the occasional vehicle coming by, so they were flying closer to the causeway road than usual.
So wouldn’t you know, my Canon R5 chose that morning to become an intractable SOB. On its own, it switched my white balance setting to “Tungsten” instead of “Auto white balance” and I didn’t notice it in the field, so all of my harrier shots had a strong, unnatural and highly annoying blue cast. After getting over my huge disappointment, I figured out a way to mostly correct the colors in Photoshop.
All of the photos below have been corrected to the best of my abilities (which are limited, to be sure). Several of them still have a slight blue cast in the harrier’s wings but they look a hell of a lot better than they did out of the camera. I liked these shots well enough that I thought they deserved to see the light of day.
This may not be my favorite of the bunch, but it provides a pretty good sense of some of the causeway habitat, with a mix of blue water, ice and ground partially covered with vegetation.
I rarely capture a harrier in flight with its wings swept this far forward.
This bird and the previous one still have some of the blue cast in their wings. I still like both photos.
This bird was banking to its left, which provided a good look at all of its dorsal surfaces.
Typically, harriers are looking down as they hunt but when I’m choosing images to post I tend to choose photos where they’re giving me better eye contact, if photos like that exist. Eye contact doesn’t get much stronger than it is here.
This isn’t the most attractive habitat along the causeway, but harriers like to hunt it because voles prefer it.
At least one of the harriers that morning was an immature male but this guy was the only adult male. I photographed him several times.
This harrier was flying into such a strong headwind it was almost stationary in the air, making for an easy target.
I like the way this harrier is positioned almost perfectly in front of the bluish mix of ice and water, with vegetation above and below. I got three shots that look almost exactly like this one.
The adult male was the only harrier that morning that I saw catch a vole but of course he took off away from me with the vole in his talons. At least I got his yellow eye. And the vole of course.
I know, I’ve been posting quite a few harrier photos lately so I don’t plan on posting any more anytime soon. But if I have to overdose my readers on any species, I’m glad it’s harriers. I chose my personalized HARRIER license plates for a reason.
Ron
Beautiful collection!!
Love All of these were great shots in my humble opinion. Thanks for braving the cold and wind.
You won’t get any argument from me if you continue to post harriers — or any subject, for that matter. In spite of the R5 goin’ stoopid on you, these are some spectacular shots! I actually like the little bit of blue that remains post-processing because it adds to the feeling of the cold, the sky, and the ice. You made it too damn hard to pick a favorite shot!
Thanks, Marty. I’d have a hard time picking a favorite in this bunch too. But given my fondness for shots where the bird is tipped sideways in flight, it would probably be #4 or #7.
“if I have to overdose my readers on any species, I’m glad it’s harriers”. I would expect you to say that about harriers, Ron. And I have to say that I completely agree! I’m very happy you got a great day with them.
I’ve been noticing a female harrier a little more recently in the open space behind my house, and a male a little less often. I’m hoping they are getting ready to start a nest back there for the 3rd year in a row.
Bill, I’m jealous of your open field so close to your house. In my area, just about every square inch is taken up by development.
Yeah, Fort Collins is very good about keeping some city open spaces as buffer areas. It’s a relatively small space with a transportation center on the other side and a solar farm in an inholding. But it has a trickle of water surrounded by cattails and enough voles and rabbits to keep a few harriers, kestrels, and coyotes interested. It makes my small lot with neighbors very close on both sides feel a lot bigger.
Can’t choose a favorite among the bunch (well, maybe #4, maybe #6, um, maybe #9) — truly, each has something special to recommend it! So glad you had a Happy Harrier Day, even with a camera glitch. I occasionally get to see these beauties hanging out over the open fields on the edge of town (also many Red-tails) … sadly we’re getting a Costco w/ gas station and this wonderful hawk-watching site will be no more.
Just what we need, Chris – another Costco, especially one destroying harrier and red-tail habitat.
What a magical morning. And of course your camera had to misbehave. Have you considered that it might be colluding with the birds – if they aren’t messing with your mind it will?
I am so glad that you could save and share these glorious images.
EC, it may be “colluding” with both birds and my ol’ friend Murph.
That’s too funny, Ron — I was going to mention your pal Ol’ Murph, but decided to go in a different direction. Glad he got his “cameo” in your blog, although I wish he’d stay out of your photography.
So do I, big time. He’s one “friend” I’m not particularly fond of.
Cannot get too many images of Harriers! I just read a paper documenting skull and ear asymmetries in European species of Harriers. It was found to be most pronounced in those species that specialize in preying on rodents. That finding, combined with their owl-like facial disks, nominates them as “Honorary Owls”!
Mikal, “Honorary Owls” works well, especially with their rudimentary facial disks and asymmetrical ear placement. Or maybe owls should be called “Honorary harriers”.
These shots are spectacular Ron !!
Glad that you could “clean up” the white balance. Lots of keepers here !!
Much appreciated, Gary.
The markings on their faces are so beautiful! What a great day for you, even with the camera issues!
Thank you, Carolyn. At least I had fun. And I did get photos I like, but only after I monkeyed with them.
Great collection; glad you could correct the colour aberration. Wonder what causes the settings to switch? Not a feature!
I wonder too, Burrdoo. Whatever it is, it pisses me off.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Mary.
Great set of harrier images, Ron! This is a species I never get tired of seeing.
Thanks, Ron. I never tire of them either. Not ever.
A camera with a mind of its own. I think every photographer has experienced that at one time or another. Shame you had to do all that extra work, but the end was worth the trouble. All excellent, but the last one with the eye peaking out from under the wing is my favorite. How many different Harriers do you think there were?
We just have this one beautiful female every winter, but she is one
of our favorites. She really considers this one lake to be hers and has no problem dive bombing the Red-tails or any other raptors that might show up.
“Shame you had to do all that extra work.”
Everett, it wasn’t much extra work. For each photo, a single click of a button accomplished it. Most of the work I put into it was figuring out which button to click on. As I’m sure you know, Photoshop has many dozens of options.
I believe there were five or six harriers hunting that part of the causeway, including juveniles and adults of both sexes.
Wonderful captures! Weird about the WB issue. Glad you were able to correct in PS. I can’t tell that the color has been corrected.
Thanks, Brett. I’m glad you can’t tell but Photoshop gets more credit for that than I do.
WOW! It certainly WAS a great day for the Harriers and fantastic that you were able to over come the white balance issue!
#2 and #5 appeal to me most tho all a definitely “eye candy” 
Judy, I haven’t had such a good day with harriers in over a decade. And my R5 had to choose that day to act up.
Photo #4! It has a lot going for it.
Good work Ron.
Re your spooky R5. If Canon techs cannot help, you might need an exorcist.
“you might need an exorcist.”
Michael, my friend Jim DeWitt says the R5 occasionally has “artificial stupidity”. I tend to agree.
Gonna use that one.
So, a “feature” not a “bug”?
Maybe a little of both…