![](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/northern-harrier-1086-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"northern-harrier-1086-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A male Northern Harrier at Farmington. I like the out-of-focus mountain background almost as much as the bird –\u00a0the\u00a0colors\u00a0remind me of the\u00a0“purple mountain majesties” line in America the Beautiful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/9, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A male Common Merganser at Farmington. I seldom get this close to the males or\u00a0this much color in their heads.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/1600, f\/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A Lesser Scaup at a local pond. I kind of like the pose as he settles back down into the water after rising up and shaking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A fourth year (notice that the bill hasn’t yet turned completely yellow)\u00a0Bald Eagle at the Antelope Island marina. I haven’t had much luck with Bald Eagles this winter but I haven’t spent as much time at Farmington as I usually do.\u00a0Presumably this bird was\u00a0in the area of the marina\u00a0and the second bridge to hunt ducks and\/or scavenge falcon leftovers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A male Common Goldeneye threatening another nearby male. I just liked the posture\/behavior.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A Rough-legged Hawk taking off from a sign post at Farmington. The bird is a little soft (largely due to lots of moisture in the air) but I always find it visually interesting when I catch a raptor taking off at this “ass over teakettle” angle. The wings are still in their first downbeat so I presume that at takeoff the bird must have leaned far forward before pushing upwards with its feet to produce this body angle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n A male Gadwall with plant material in his bill\u00a0at a local pond. What struck me here is the unusual colors and patterns reflected\u00a0in the water – they almost remind me of hundreds of small,\u00a0strange-colored lily pads packed\u00a0tightly together. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it in water reflections\u00a0before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n