Northern Harriers Playing With Toys
In a recent post I documented “play” in Northern Harriers. Two days ago I photographed two of them playing – with each other and with “toys”.
Tag: northern harrier
Northern Harrier “Playing”
Play has been well documented in some bird species and I believe I photographed that behavior in a Northern Harrier this week. This bird was too far away for quality images but I think the behavior is well documented in the photographs. I first spotted this hawk on an ugly metal fence post but as soon as I stopped my pickup to watch it through my lens the wary bird took off. Almost immediately it performed a spectacular and classic harrier mid-air maneuver by changing directions and pouncing on something in the grasses. I presumed it to be a vole. For about two minutes the bird continually struggled, wrestled and pounced on something I couldn’t see. The activity was quite frenetic and I took many photos of it. As I watched through my lens I wondered if the harrier was trying to avoid being bitten by a vole or even a larger rodent. Eventually the harrier took off with its “prey”, which turned out to be dried cow poop. Cow pies are common in this area because refuge managers run cattle there in the summer in an attempt to control invasive phragmites (personally I’m not a fan of cattle on public lands but that’s another story…). The harrier carried the cow pie only a few feet… before dropping it. Whether that was done deliberately or not I don’t know but I suspect that it was because in the image just before this one (just as the pie…
A Tough Winter On Northern Harriers
The winter of 2008 was severe and it put a lot of survival pressure on our resident birds, particularly raptors. The number of Northern Harriers wintering over at Farmington Bay seemed unusually high and toward the end of the winter there was intense competition for dwindling food supplies.
Male Northern Harrier – Gray On Gray
I photographed this male Northern Harrier earlier this month as it hunted the causeway to Antelope Island. The grayish-browns of the bird are similar to the grays of the Great Salt Lake mudflats in the background. Monochromatic images like this may be an acquired taste for many and it was through the influence of my friend and photographer Richard Ditch that I learned to appreciate them.
Male Harrier Hunting In A Quartering Wind
The eight minutes I spent photographing this male Northern Harrier in flight were both exhilarating and frustrating to the extreme.
Take That Shot. Just Do It!
Yesterday morning just after sunrise I was driving slowly on an isolated and deserted road looking for birds when I encountered a male Northern Harrier hunting along the road edge as it flew in the same direction I was traveling.
The Honor In Keeping Your Word (or the lack of it when you don’t)
Sadly, it’s not particularly unusual for folks who get free use of my images to not live up to their end of the bargain but I found this one to be more disturbing than most.
The Gray Ghost On Antelope Island
The male Northern Harrier is called the “gray ghost” for good reason, particularly on Antelope Island
Northern Harrier In Flight Over The Great Salt Lake
Occasionally a Northern Harrier will come in close to the photographer as the hawk hunts the narrow confines of the causeway to Antelope Island.
Blurred Wings In Flight – A Matter Of Taste
There are three primary schools of thought when it comes to blurred wings in flight – not ever, they don’t bother me and it depends on the image. I fall in the latter camp.
Northern Harrier Kiting Against A Mountain Backdrop
Wind can be an issue when photographing birds in flight but at times it can also be your friend.
Harrier In Flight With Reflected Light From Snow
When I’m in the field I sometimes curse the snow but for bird photographers that white, messy stuff can often be a blessing in disguise.
Grumpy, Wet and Cold Northern Harrier Drying Out
This is a look and pose I’ve noticed fairly often from Red-tailed Hawks in conditions like this but I rarely see the same from a harrier.
Surprise Harrier
Usually when I photograph Northern Harriers they are my intended goal. Yesterday morning this bird was an exception as it caught me completely unprepared.
A New Northern Harrier Behavior (for me)
Harriers have been a common subject for me over the years so I don’t often notice something new about them. Recently I did and the following three photos illustrate my point.
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Northern Harrier “Playing”
Play has been well documented in some bird species and I believe I photographed that behavior in a Northern Harrier this week. This bird was too far away for quality images but I think the behavior is well documented in the photographs. I first spotted this hawk on an ugly metal fence post but as soon as I stopped my pickup to watch it through my lens the wary bird took off. Almost immediately it performed a spectacular and classic harrier mid-air maneuver by changing directions and pouncing on something in the grasses. I presumed it to be a vole. For about two minutes the bird continually struggled, wrestled and pounced on something I couldn’t see. The activity was quite frenetic and I took many photos of it. As I watched through my lens I wondered if the harrier was trying to avoid being bitten by a vole or even a larger rodent. Eventually the harrier took off with its “prey”, which turned out to be dried cow poop. Cow pies are common in this area because refuge managers run cattle there in the summer in an attempt to control invasive phragmites (personally I’m not a fan of cattle on public lands but that’s another story…). The harrier carried the cow pie only a few feet… before dropping it. Whether that was done deliberately or not I don’t know but I suspect that it was because in the image just before this one (just as the pie…
A Tough Winter On Northern Harriers
The winter of 2008 was severe and it put a lot of survival pressure on our resident birds, particularly raptors. The number of Northern Harriers wintering over at Farmington Bay seemed unusually high and toward the end of the winter there was intense competition for dwindling food supplies.
Male Northern Harrier – Gray On Gray
I photographed this male Northern Harrier earlier this month as it hunted the causeway to Antelope Island. The grayish-browns of the bird are similar to the grays of the Great Salt Lake mudflats in the background. Monochromatic images like this may be an acquired taste for many and it was through the influence of my friend and photographer Richard Ditch that I learned to appreciate them.
Male Harrier Hunting In A Quartering Wind
The eight minutes I spent photographing this male Northern Harrier in flight were both exhilarating and frustrating to the extreme.
Take That Shot. Just Do It!
Yesterday morning just after sunrise I was driving slowly on an isolated and deserted road looking for birds when I encountered a male Northern Harrier hunting along the road edge as it flew in the same direction I was traveling.
The Honor In Keeping Your Word (or the lack of it when you don’t)
Sadly, it’s not particularly unusual for folks who get free use of my images to not live up to their end of the bargain but I found this one to be more disturbing than most.
The Gray Ghost On Antelope Island
The male Northern Harrier is called the “gray ghost” for good reason, particularly on Antelope Island
Northern Harrier In Flight Over The Great Salt Lake
Occasionally a Northern Harrier will come in close to the photographer as the hawk hunts the narrow confines of the causeway to Antelope Island.
Blurred Wings In Flight – A Matter Of Taste
There are three primary schools of thought when it comes to blurred wings in flight – not ever, they don’t bother me and it depends on the image. I fall in the latter camp.
Northern Harrier Kiting Against A Mountain Backdrop
Wind can be an issue when photographing birds in flight but at times it can also be your friend.
Harrier In Flight With Reflected Light From Snow
When I’m in the field I sometimes curse the snow but for bird photographers that white, messy stuff can often be a blessing in disguise.
Grumpy, Wet and Cold Northern Harrier Drying Out
This is a look and pose I’ve noticed fairly often from Red-tailed Hawks in conditions like this but I rarely see the same from a harrier.
Surprise Harrier
Usually when I photograph Northern Harriers they are my intended goal. Yesterday morning this bird was an exception as it caught me completely unprepared.
A New Northern Harrier Behavior (for me)
Harriers have been a common subject for me over the years so I don’t often notice something new about them. Recently I did and the following three photos illustrate my point.