Ten days ago I had a blast photographing Northern Harriers along the Antelope Island causeway for the second time recently. The first time there were several of them but this time all of my photos were of a single adult male that was hunting west to east along the causeway.
In seven minutes I got over 400 photos of him, mostly in flight as he was hunting. I like a lot of them but today I’ll be presenting only three of them.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Since he was reliably hunting west to east along the 7-mile-long causeway, my strategy was to drive ahead of him and then stop and wait for him to get close. But he was usually coming so fast he was often almost past me before I could stop my pickup and get him in my viewfinder. I like this photo in part because it was an exception – he wasn’t past me and he was still coming my way.
Occasionally he’d dive on prey and it was one of my goals to photograph him in one of those exceptionally quick, twisty dives. But when that happens their speed and flight direction changes so quickly they’re nearly impossible to keep in the viewfinder, much less in focus.
In the above photo he was flying east but only a few seconds after it was taken he spotted prey below him and…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
twisted in flight so that instantly he was facing the opposite direction (west) and diving down toward the presumed vole. In the photo after this one he’d dived so fast I cut off most of his right wing.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
He missed the vole and took off almost immediately to resume hunting. Because of vegetation between us he was soft in most of my photos of him on the ground, but I do like this takeoff shot.
I hadn’t had much luck on the island that morning so this harrier, along the causeway on my way home, saved my day at nearly the last minute.
Thanks Mr. Gray Ghost.
Ron
I got distracted before I commented on this post yesterday – so I’m late to the party. But I just wanted to say thanks for posting these beautiful photos. There are not many bird-related activities I enjoy more than watching Northern Harriers hunt, and these pictures capture that nicely. Great photos of a beautiful raptor, Ron.
Nice. They are gorgeous birds.
Stunning photos. You are so dedicated to perfect shots. Thanks.
Amazing that you were able to shoot him that well. Looks perfect to me. There have been lots of birds around here lately – and I take more notice than previously. THANKS!
“and I take more notice than previously.”
Judy, assuming I take some credit for that, you made my day.
One of the best yet and you nailed him! I love Harriers!
Much appreciated, Jerry. Me too.
Some more wonderful images – well done.
Thank you, Gary.
Wow—what a day you had! Well, with this harrier, anyway, even if the other birds were non-compliant. This handsome guy has it all—beauty, grace and skill. I do agree the contortionist shot is amazing, but I’ll take the wing-fling exposing those long, speckled legs every time. Gorgeous Gray Ghost!
Thanks, Chris. That “wing-fling” shot was an afterthought for this post. Before processing, it was a little overexposed so at first I passed over it. I’m glad I took another look and gave it a chance by decreasing exposure during processing. I ended up liking it.
You’ve selected three superb shots out of those 440! I’m sure there are some other gems in there as well.
He looks like a torpedo with wings in the first shot — must be that thick neck. The twisting in the 2nd and 3rd shot definitely speaks to the agility of harriers, among other species, and you know I love a good “wing fling” before takeoff!
I’d say this gentleman (gentlebird?) certainly approved of your license plate.
Marty, harriers like this guy are exactly what I had in mind when I picked out my vanity license plate. I cut my photographic teeth on harriers at Farmington Bay, so I’ve always had a huge soft spot for them.
Wow, 400 photos in 7 minutes! Your camera was working as hard as Mr. Grey Ghost was. Do you have a sense of how many attempts on prey he made? I wonder what their success rate is.
I hope Sheila and Randy have a successful home hunt, too. When you mentioned them moving from New Mexico the other day, it piqued my interest (my “home” state for the first 26 years of my life). And now you say they are leaving Albuquerque – my “hometown” –
although I barely recognized it on my last visit there, it’s grown so much!
“Wow, 400 photos in 7 minutes!”
Carolyn, there were actually 440 of them. I really wanted to get at least one diving shot and laying on the shutter button improved my chances.
I only saw him make three attempts on prey but I’m sure there were more when I couldn’t see him.
Sheila’s glad to get out of Albuquerque. She described living there as “living in a sandbox”. I think she prefers snow and cold over sand and heat.
Although I’ve watched them hunt many times, my eyes don’t capture images quickly enough to observe that kind of twisting attack. Your blog is such a great teaching tool!
Much appreciated, Pam. Your last sentence means a lot to me.
You really captured the stark tonal difference between his underside and topside. At first glance the pics look like they are of different birds. Congrats!
On a side note, at the Lower Klamath Refuge area this year, I am seeing far more Harriers than I’ve ever seen. It seems you are seeing a lot in your area also.
Thanks, Kent. Yes, I’m seeing more than usual too, in several areas. I hope it’s a long-term trend.
The agility is heart stopping!
Agreed.
Wow – love that 2nd photo. As an amateur hobbyist photographer I would never get a photo that good. Sue wish we would just get a look once at the Gray Ghost here. Very rarely do we get to see one and I have never in 19 years here seen one. Only females, and no complaints, I sure enjoy getting to see them every year. We have one long time female who truly believes she owns our Willow and Watson Lakes and will dive bomb every other hawk that comes into her territory. She is my favorite among all our raptors. I call her Lady Hawk.
Everett, for some reason most of the harriers I’ve photographed lately have been adult males. I’m “not complaining” either.
Count me in on that second shot – love the dynamic contortion. Hope he got a meal.
“Hope he got a meal.”
He didn’t that time, Burrdoo. But he was working hard at it so I’m sure he did eventually.
WOW! The contortion in #2 is amazing! Challenge of capturing that met!
I don’t think of birds being that flexible! The stretch in #3 for take off also impressive. 
In theory it’s going to warm up some today – + 18 in town but hasn’t made it to our “hole” just yet – still -3. Hoping this is the last of the bitter cold for this year!
Thanks, Judy.
My sister Sheila and her husband Randy will be making an offer on a house in Helena today. I hope they don’t regret it but Sheila grew up in MT so she knows what they’re getting into regarding the cold winters. It’ll still be a shock, going from New Mexico to MT. Especially for poor Randy who has never lived in the ‘north country’.
Helena is (always has been) a pricey town but then everything west of the divide (and even GF) is getting ridiculous. Some places in New Mexico can get pretty cold as I understand it. Hopefully this Feb. is a “one off” for a few years now…….
They lived in Albuquerque so I don’t think it was particularly cold there.
I’m with Kris. All great shots, but that #2. It is a perfect example of how no matter what sort of flying machine humans come up with, nothing beats the incredible biomechanics of birds.
“nothing beats the incredible biomechanics of birds.”
Well said, Michael. I couldn’t agree more.
Photo #2– INCREDIBLY DYNAMIC…. One can almost see him turning in mid-air ! I’m looking forward to seeing more ……
Thanks, Kris. That’s the only diving shot I got that morning that I like. Maybe next time we’ll have a better look at his eye…