A Willet, An Impaled Pellet And A Photographer Caught By Surprise
After eight years of photographing birds it’s not every day that I see something new but yesterday I did.
Tag: pellet
Eastern Kingbird Casting A Pellet
This morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I saw kingbirds galore – mostly Western but also a few Eastern Kingbirds. Soon it became obvious that this Eastern Kingbird was about to cast a pellet.
A Shrike Partially Consumes Its Own Pellet
This post is documentary only. The images are not aesthetically pleasing. Loggerhead Shrikes produce a pellet from an insect meal only 35.5 minutes (on average) after consumption. This is an amazingly fast turn-around time (Short-eared Owls average 8.5 hours before a pellet is produced from their rodent prey). When shrikes are consuming insects and spiders their pellets consist of the indigestible chitinous exoskeletons of those arthropods. I’ve seen and photographed Loggerhead Shrikes ejecting pellets many times but what I photographed on this August morning was new to me. Because of the cluttered setting I was mostly only watching this juvenile through my lens (not photographing it) when I could tell it was about to chuck up a pellet. Every time I’ve observed this behavior in the past the pellet was ejected quickly and cleanly and simply fell to the ground. But this bird had a surprise for me. It caught the pellet in the tip of its beak… and manipulated it there for some time. Then it very deliberately mashed up the pellet and appeared to be swallowing parts of it as other smaller pieces fell to the ground. My guess would be that about half of the pellet was consumed as the other half fell away, though I can’t be absolutely certain that any of it was actually eaten because my view of what was happening was not always a clear one. I wish I knew what was really going on here. This is the only time I’ve ever seen a bird (of any species) manipulate a pellet after…
Swainson’s Hawk Regurgitating Pellets
Western Montana has been awash in Swainson’s Hawks this summer. From the Canadian border (Glacier County) to the southern border with Idaho (Beaverhead County) I found them in significantly larger numbers than I have seen in previous summers. I hope this very unscientific observation is accurate and that it bodes them well as a species because their numbers have been declining to the point where they are listed as a Species of Special Concern in several western states. 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 I found this handsome juvenile this past week along a county road in Beaverhead County. At first it was very relaxed and assumed this clenched fist pose that is so typical of many buteo species when they’re at ease and resting. 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 But soon it began to arch its neck and I recognized that it was about to attempt to expel a pellet. I had already taken my tc off in anticipation of take-off so I decided to leave it off because so often in the past I’ve missed the falling pellet as it dropped out of frame at the bottom. 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 Then, with the nictitating membrane pulled over the eye, the bird began to retch. These few images showing pellet ejection may give the viewer the impression that it all happened very quickly. It didn’t. From beginning to end the whole process took over four minutes. During that time there were alternating periods of retching and resting and it didn’t look to be a…
At Long Last – The Red Crown Patch Of The Western Kingbird
Occasionally, even a mediocre shot can make my day. I’ve known about the red/orange crown patch of the Western Kingbird for some time now but until yesterday had never seen or photographed it. 1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc It normally lies concealed under the gray feathers on the top of the head and is rarely seen or photographed. Normally the crown patch is only revealed before or during an attack on another kingbird or a potential predator threatening its nest. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f/4 The most common aggressive pose toward other kingbirds is called the wing flutter, where the wings are extended and rapidly fluttered in small arcs. But typically the crown patch is not exposed during a wing flutter unless an actual attack on the other kingbird is imminent. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4 I’ve included this image and the next one to show how well the crown patch is concealed. Here, as this kingbird ejects and throws off a pellet, you have a good look at the top of the head with no suggestion of a red crown patch beneath the overlying crown plumage. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc And another kingbird, banking at takeoff, gives us a pretty good look at the top of the head with no hint of the patch. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc But yesterday a gull made the mistake of landing on a perch very close to this kingbirds nest and it’s…
Western Kingbirds
Yesterday was a slow day on the island, though we did see our first Western Kingbird of the year (I should say that Mia saw it as I missed it – one of the disadvantages of being the driver…). The sighting got me to thinking about these aggressive tyrant flycatchers and reminded me of how much I’ve missed them these last few months so I decided to devote a post to them. They’re called “kingbirds” because of their belligerent behavior and fearless nature. Kingbirds are very aggressive toward other birds and it’s not unusual to see them attacking almost any species – including hawks and American Kestrels. They’re extremely agile in flight and can get away with such seemingly foolish behaviors. 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc In this shot you can see most if the important field marks – pale gray head and breast, darker mask through the eyes, underparts yellow, tail black with white edges and black bill. The sexes are similar. Most folks are unaware that the species has a small orange-red patch on the top of the head but it is nearly always hidden except while performing certain behaviors. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc These birds are almost unknown to walk anywhere – virtually all locomotion is by flight. Typically they hunt from elevated perches so they flit from perch to perch looking for insects mostly. When I’m lucky I find them on natural perches like this dried thistle… 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4,…
Northern Harrier Vomiting
No great photography today but some interesting behavior. I’ve often seen and photographed various bird species hacking up a pellet but this was my first experience with one vomiting. 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc When I first got this Northern Harrier in my viewfinder I thought it was acting slightly odd – it seemed lethargic, reluctant to fly and its head was hanging low. Then it suddenly vomited. 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The vomitus was thick, mucus-like and stringy and I’m quite sure no pellet was expelled. I had an email discussion about this behavior with a friend (thanks once again Ingrid) and sent her these photos. They were forwarded to the Cascades Raptor Center who said that this behavior is something they’ve not seen before and that it isn’t “normal”. When this bird had finished vomiting it stayed perched (very unusual) as I drove through a gate perhaps 25′ to the right of the bird. I drove down the road to let it recover in peace and when I returned about a half hour later it was gone. Ron
Shrikes, Pellets and Photographer’s Frustrations
For about three years now one of my photography goals has been to get a series of quality shots showing a Loggerhead Shrike regurgitating a pellet. My requirements were that the images must be sharp with good detail and light, there must be no significant distractions or clutter to interfere with the behavior, there should be light in the eye (a catch light) and the last shot must show the pellet after it has left the birds mouth. This post is a progress report of sorts on how I’ve fared with the goal. I’ll include some lessons I’ve learned and mistakes I’ve made so I hope you’ll bear with me through a few less than ideal images which help to illustrate some of those lessons. 1/1250, f/8, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc This was my first image of a shrike ejecting a pellet (3/3/10). I didn’t anticipate it happening and wasn’t even sure what was going on until I processed the image. I got two almost identical shots that showed the pellet in the mouth and missed the pellet as it was ejected (I think I remember my buffer filling up just about then). I was also too far away for good image quality – this is a large crop. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc On the next opportunity (8/5/11) I was frustrated by obstructing branches and a poor light angle. While this young bird was ejecting the pellet it was facing mostly toward me which put its face and the pellet in shadow. Then the juvenile did something completely unexpected…
Red-tailed Hawks of Utah’s West Desert
Red-tailed Hawks are common and widespread throughout most of North America but I typically find them to be wary and difficult subjects to approach and photograph. However we did have some pretty good luck with them a couple of mornings this past week in western Utah. Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, EV -0.67, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc We found them deep in a canyon of one of the many “island mountain ranges” of Utah’s west desert. There were at least a half-dozen of them hanging out together, many of them juveniles. The lighting at the bottom of the canyon in early morning was often filtered and spotty and the perches were usually dead trees with lots of branches going every which way so the backgrounds and settings were typically busy. This is one of the cleaner shots I got of one on a perch in the canyon bottom. Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640,EV -1.00, 500 f/4 This one chose a juniper perch which would provide a clean background for a takeoff shot so I tried to leave room in front of the bird just in case. I was looking slightly down on the hawk when it launched and I liked the good look at the topside of the bird in this shot but do wish it had been looking more my way. But then I probably wouldn’t have any light on the eye – sometimes you just can’t win… Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640 EV +0.33, 500 f/4 Shooting these hawks in flight was very frustrating! Each morning they would pretty much…
A Willet Expelling a Pellet
Yesterday I got a shot of a Willet expelling a pellet. It’s a behavior I’ve seldom seen and rarely photographed because it typically happens very quickly, many birds don’t do it at all and it often occurs only once per day or so with many species. A pellet, sometimes referred to as a bolus, is a clump of indigestible material that is formed in the crop and eventually regurgitated. Depending on the diet of the bird it may be made of feather, bone, fur and/or chitin from insect or crustacean exoskeletons. Canon 7D, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc At first I wasn’t taking many photos of this Willet because its lower legs were cut off by the rock perch but I did adjust my settings for quick action in case it took off or performed some other interesting behavior. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The first indication I got that something might happen that would be interesting to photograph was when the bird pulled down its neck and there was a slight bulge in the throat. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc Then the Willet began trying to expel the pellet. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc What happens next appears to look almost like a gagging reflex. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The pellet popped out so quickly that I didn’t even see it through the viewfinder…
American Kestrels – What They’ll Eat and What They Won’t.
I’ve always found it fascinating to watch these little falcons eat. A gruesome experience to be sure but so much more interesting than observing a raptor such as an owl who simply swallows its prey whole. And if you watch carefully there’s a whole lot more going on during the process than first meets the eye. Kestrels can be pretty picky eaters. I’ve documented in another post on this blog that they often refuse to eat the intestinal tract of their prey and deliberately discard it. Kestrels, like other raptors, eject pellets of indigestible materials like fur, feathers, chitin and bone. All food that is swallowed first goes to the crop. From there the usable food continues on to the stomach but the indigestibles stay in the crop, are formed into a pellet and regurgitated roughly 23 hours (in the case of kestrels) after the meal was consumed. Canon 7D, 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500mm f/4, 1.4 tc The kestrels I’ve watched eating voles and mice typically eat the brain, decapitate the rodent, then go for the soft internal protein rich muscles and other organs (discarding the intestines). Since kestrels tear their prey into bite-sized pieces they can pick and choose what they actually swallow. Canon 7D, 1/400, f/8, ISO 640, 500mm f/4, 1.4 tc Pellet expulsion can be difficult and traumatic as I’ve documented elsewhere on this blog with Northern Harriers and I suspect that’s one of the reasons that kestrels try to avoid swallowing as much fur as possible. When opening up the body cavity they often get a beak-full of…
Northern Harrier Struggling to Expel a Pellet
Except for owls, all raptors have a crop for excess food storage. The parts of the prey that are indigestible are formed into a pellet in the gizzard and then regurgitated out of the mouth. These pellets contain hair, feathers, exoskeletons and sometimes (in the case of owls especially) the bones of their prey. I’ve noticed with many raptor species that expelling a pellet can be a difficult process, bordering on traumatic. Such was the case with this juvenile male Northern Harrier. I was watching this bird through my lens but not planning on getting any quality photos because the bird was strongly side-lit. But when he began trying to expel a pellet I couldn’t resist clicking away. Because of the side-lighting and relatively soft focus the images are not of high quality but I thought the behavior was interesting enough for a blog post anyway. All of the photos in this series are posted in the order that they were taken. The beginning of the struggle to expel the pellet Here the harrier is shaking his head from side to side to try to dislodge the pellet But with the effort he begins to lose his balance on the perch And almost falls over backward He begins to recover And then falls forward Begins to recover again Still recovering Recovered, but still with the pellet stuck in his mouth And finally the pellet has been expelled. As luck would have it my buffer had filled up and I missed…
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Eastern Kingbird Casting A Pellet
This morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I saw kingbirds galore – mostly Western but also a few Eastern Kingbirds. Soon it became obvious that this Eastern Kingbird was about to cast a pellet.
A Shrike Partially Consumes Its Own Pellet
This post is documentary only. The images are not aesthetically pleasing. Loggerhead Shrikes produce a pellet from an insect meal only 35.5 minutes (on average) after consumption. This is an amazingly fast turn-around time (Short-eared Owls average 8.5 hours before a pellet is produced from their rodent prey). When shrikes are consuming insects and spiders their pellets consist of the indigestible chitinous exoskeletons of those arthropods. I’ve seen and photographed Loggerhead Shrikes ejecting pellets many times but what I photographed on this August morning was new to me. Because of the cluttered setting I was mostly only watching this juvenile through my lens (not photographing it) when I could tell it was about to chuck up a pellet. Every time I’ve observed this behavior in the past the pellet was ejected quickly and cleanly and simply fell to the ground. But this bird had a surprise for me. It caught the pellet in the tip of its beak… and manipulated it there for some time. Then it very deliberately mashed up the pellet and appeared to be swallowing parts of it as other smaller pieces fell to the ground. My guess would be that about half of the pellet was consumed as the other half fell away, though I can’t be absolutely certain that any of it was actually eaten because my view of what was happening was not always a clear one. I wish I knew what was really going on here. This is the only time I’ve ever seen a bird (of any species) manipulate a pellet after…
Swainson’s Hawk Regurgitating Pellets
Western Montana has been awash in Swainson’s Hawks this summer. From the Canadian border (Glacier County) to the southern border with Idaho (Beaverhead County) I found them in significantly larger numbers than I have seen in previous summers. I hope this very unscientific observation is accurate and that it bodes them well as a species because their numbers have been declining to the point where they are listed as a Species of Special Concern in several western states. 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 I found this handsome juvenile this past week along a county road in Beaverhead County. At first it was very relaxed and assumed this clenched fist pose that is so typical of many buteo species when they’re at ease and resting. 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 But soon it began to arch its neck and I recognized that it was about to attempt to expel a pellet. I had already taken my tc off in anticipation of take-off so I decided to leave it off because so often in the past I’ve missed the falling pellet as it dropped out of frame at the bottom. 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4 Then, with the nictitating membrane pulled over the eye, the bird began to retch. These few images showing pellet ejection may give the viewer the impression that it all happened very quickly. It didn’t. From beginning to end the whole process took over four minutes. During that time there were alternating periods of retching and resting and it didn’t look to be a…
At Long Last – The Red Crown Patch Of The Western Kingbird
Occasionally, even a mediocre shot can make my day. I’ve known about the red/orange crown patch of the Western Kingbird for some time now but until yesterday had never seen or photographed it. 1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc It normally lies concealed under the gray feathers on the top of the head and is rarely seen or photographed. Normally the crown patch is only revealed before or during an attack on another kingbird or a potential predator threatening its nest. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f/4 The most common aggressive pose toward other kingbirds is called the wing flutter, where the wings are extended and rapidly fluttered in small arcs. But typically the crown patch is not exposed during a wing flutter unless an actual attack on the other kingbird is imminent. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4 I’ve included this image and the next one to show how well the crown patch is concealed. Here, as this kingbird ejects and throws off a pellet, you have a good look at the top of the head with no suggestion of a red crown patch beneath the overlying crown plumage. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc And another kingbird, banking at takeoff, gives us a pretty good look at the top of the head with no hint of the patch. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc But yesterday a gull made the mistake of landing on a perch very close to this kingbirds nest and it’s…
Western Kingbirds
Yesterday was a slow day on the island, though we did see our first Western Kingbird of the year (I should say that Mia saw it as I missed it – one of the disadvantages of being the driver…). The sighting got me to thinking about these aggressive tyrant flycatchers and reminded me of how much I’ve missed them these last few months so I decided to devote a post to them. They’re called “kingbirds” because of their belligerent behavior and fearless nature. Kingbirds are very aggressive toward other birds and it’s not unusual to see them attacking almost any species – including hawks and American Kestrels. They’re extremely agile in flight and can get away with such seemingly foolish behaviors. 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc In this shot you can see most if the important field marks – pale gray head and breast, darker mask through the eyes, underparts yellow, tail black with white edges and black bill. The sexes are similar. Most folks are unaware that the species has a small orange-red patch on the top of the head but it is nearly always hidden except while performing certain behaviors. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc These birds are almost unknown to walk anywhere – virtually all locomotion is by flight. Typically they hunt from elevated perches so they flit from perch to perch looking for insects mostly. When I’m lucky I find them on natural perches like this dried thistle… 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4,…
Northern Harrier Vomiting
No great photography today but some interesting behavior. I’ve often seen and photographed various bird species hacking up a pellet but this was my first experience with one vomiting. 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc When I first got this Northern Harrier in my viewfinder I thought it was acting slightly odd – it seemed lethargic, reluctant to fly and its head was hanging low. Then it suddenly vomited. 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The vomitus was thick, mucus-like and stringy and I’m quite sure no pellet was expelled. I had an email discussion about this behavior with a friend (thanks once again Ingrid) and sent her these photos. They were forwarded to the Cascades Raptor Center who said that this behavior is something they’ve not seen before and that it isn’t “normal”. When this bird had finished vomiting it stayed perched (very unusual) as I drove through a gate perhaps 25′ to the right of the bird. I drove down the road to let it recover in peace and when I returned about a half hour later it was gone. Ron
Shrikes, Pellets and Photographer’s Frustrations
For about three years now one of my photography goals has been to get a series of quality shots showing a Loggerhead Shrike regurgitating a pellet. My requirements were that the images must be sharp with good detail and light, there must be no significant distractions or clutter to interfere with the behavior, there should be light in the eye (a catch light) and the last shot must show the pellet after it has left the birds mouth. This post is a progress report of sorts on how I’ve fared with the goal. I’ll include some lessons I’ve learned and mistakes I’ve made so I hope you’ll bear with me through a few less than ideal images which help to illustrate some of those lessons. 1/1250, f/8, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc This was my first image of a shrike ejecting a pellet (3/3/10). I didn’t anticipate it happening and wasn’t even sure what was going on until I processed the image. I got two almost identical shots that showed the pellet in the mouth and missed the pellet as it was ejected (I think I remember my buffer filling up just about then). I was also too far away for good image quality – this is a large crop. 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc On the next opportunity (8/5/11) I was frustrated by obstructing branches and a poor light angle. While this young bird was ejecting the pellet it was facing mostly toward me which put its face and the pellet in shadow. Then the juvenile did something completely unexpected…
Red-tailed Hawks of Utah’s West Desert
Red-tailed Hawks are common and widespread throughout most of North America but I typically find them to be wary and difficult subjects to approach and photograph. However we did have some pretty good luck with them a couple of mornings this past week in western Utah. Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, EV -0.67, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc We found them deep in a canyon of one of the many “island mountain ranges” of Utah’s west desert. There were at least a half-dozen of them hanging out together, many of them juveniles. The lighting at the bottom of the canyon in early morning was often filtered and spotty and the perches were usually dead trees with lots of branches going every which way so the backgrounds and settings were typically busy. This is one of the cleaner shots I got of one on a perch in the canyon bottom. Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640,EV -1.00, 500 f/4 This one chose a juniper perch which would provide a clean background for a takeoff shot so I tried to leave room in front of the bird just in case. I was looking slightly down on the hawk when it launched and I liked the good look at the topside of the bird in this shot but do wish it had been looking more my way. But then I probably wouldn’t have any light on the eye – sometimes you just can’t win… Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640 EV +0.33, 500 f/4 Shooting these hawks in flight was very frustrating! Each morning they would pretty much…
A Willet Expelling a Pellet
Yesterday I got a shot of a Willet expelling a pellet. It’s a behavior I’ve seldom seen and rarely photographed because it typically happens very quickly, many birds don’t do it at all and it often occurs only once per day or so with many species. A pellet, sometimes referred to as a bolus, is a clump of indigestible material that is formed in the crop and eventually regurgitated. Depending on the diet of the bird it may be made of feather, bone, fur and/or chitin from insect or crustacean exoskeletons. Canon 7D, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc At first I wasn’t taking many photos of this Willet because its lower legs were cut off by the rock perch but I did adjust my settings for quick action in case it took off or performed some other interesting behavior. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The first indication I got that something might happen that would be interesting to photograph was when the bird pulled down its neck and there was a slight bulge in the throat. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc Then the Willet began trying to expel the pellet. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc What happens next appears to look almost like a gagging reflex. Canon 7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc The pellet popped out so quickly that I didn’t even see it through the viewfinder…
American Kestrels – What They’ll Eat and What They Won’t.
I’ve always found it fascinating to watch these little falcons eat. A gruesome experience to be sure but so much more interesting than observing a raptor such as an owl who simply swallows its prey whole. And if you watch carefully there’s a whole lot more going on during the process than first meets the eye. Kestrels can be pretty picky eaters. I’ve documented in another post on this blog that they often refuse to eat the intestinal tract of their prey and deliberately discard it. Kestrels, like other raptors, eject pellets of indigestible materials like fur, feathers, chitin and bone. All food that is swallowed first goes to the crop. From there the usable food continues on to the stomach but the indigestibles stay in the crop, are formed into a pellet and regurgitated roughly 23 hours (in the case of kestrels) after the meal was consumed. Canon 7D, 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500mm f/4, 1.4 tc The kestrels I’ve watched eating voles and mice typically eat the brain, decapitate the rodent, then go for the soft internal protein rich muscles and other organs (discarding the intestines). Since kestrels tear their prey into bite-sized pieces they can pick and choose what they actually swallow. Canon 7D, 1/400, f/8, ISO 640, 500mm f/4, 1.4 tc Pellet expulsion can be difficult and traumatic as I’ve documented elsewhere on this blog with Northern Harriers and I suspect that’s one of the reasons that kestrels try to avoid swallowing as much fur as possible. When opening up the body cavity they often get a beak-full of…
Northern Harrier Struggling to Expel a Pellet
Except for owls, all raptors have a crop for excess food storage. The parts of the prey that are indigestible are formed into a pellet in the gizzard and then regurgitated out of the mouth. These pellets contain hair, feathers, exoskeletons and sometimes (in the case of owls especially) the bones of their prey. I’ve noticed with many raptor species that expelling a pellet can be a difficult process, bordering on traumatic. Such was the case with this juvenile male Northern Harrier. I was watching this bird through my lens but not planning on getting any quality photos because the bird was strongly side-lit. But when he began trying to expel a pellet I couldn’t resist clicking away. Because of the side-lighting and relatively soft focus the images are not of high quality but I thought the behavior was interesting enough for a blog post anyway. All of the photos in this series are posted in the order that they were taken. The beginning of the struggle to expel the pellet Here the harrier is shaking his head from side to side to try to dislodge the pellet But with the effort he begins to lose his balance on the perch And almost falls over backward He begins to recover And then falls forward Begins to recover again Still recovering Recovered, but still with the pellet stuck in his mouth And finally the pellet has been expelled. As luck would have it my buffer had filled up and I missed…