Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted November 19, 2009266 views29 comments

It's fairly unusual for me to see harriers perched in trees (this was a fairly large dead snag) and even more unusual for one to let me get this close on such a perch. But I approached this bird just as the sun was beginning to rise and she was apparently determined to soak in it's warmth from this relatively high perch despite my presence. She spread her tail and fluffed up like this for several minutes as soon as the sun hit her. The side light was a challenge even though I maneuvered for the best angle I could get.

Addendum: In my comments above I have referred to this bird as "she". I was wrong. Thanks to Ted Swem I now know that this bird is a juvenile male (solid rufous breast combined with light iris).

7D, 1/800, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup wondow yesterday, cropped to 60% of original image, no saturation added - all I did was crop, bring out the shadows slightly that were caused by the side light and sharpen, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on November 19, 2009 at 8:12 PM

Outstanding light Ron! I love the ruffled look of the feathers, and while there's so much to love in this the spread tail is probably my favorite aspect of the entire image.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on November 19, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Ron, this is "over the top", and brought tears to my eyes! This is THE BEST Harrier photo I've ever seen! From the eye, to the tail, it's perfect!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on November 19, 2009 at 8:32 PM

Really nice, Ron. Love the ruffled look. No nits from me.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 19, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Simply fantastic. I'm never fortunate enough to see these birds perched and the lighting (especially on the eye) is really special. The larger version seems to show a bit of grain in the darker areas, which is from adjusting the shadows as you mentioned, but it's pretty minor.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jake Dingel on November 19, 2009 at 9:07 PM

super shot, really like the ruffled feathers.

Registered on April 24, 2006, 34 Posts, 633 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on November 19, 2009 at 10:07 PM

Wow! Just Wow!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on November 19, 2009 at 10:19 PM

Great stuff, Ron! The side-lighting worked well, I think.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 19, 2009 at 11:02 PM

No question: this is an outstanding shot, Ron. Close and detailed with a bird that is giving you a real display of feathers. Wonderful lighting too. Looks like "our" 7D is testing out well too.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on November 19, 2009 at 11:29 PM

Superb Ron! Love the pose, light, detail, etc... Just an awesome shot!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 20, 2009 at 12:19 AM

When it all comes together, I think the term is "Perfect"!
Nicely done, Ron!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on November 20, 2009 at 12:25 AM

Beautiful light, excellent detail.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 20, 2009 at 12:40 AM

Such a rare combination of her firstly, being perched, secondly showing the ruffled feather appearance and finally, the superb warm lighting. A real treat to see.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Don Wagner on November 20, 2009 at 8:51 AM

Perfect light and pose! I agree on the rarity of finding a Harrier perched, heck I'm still trying to get a shot of one period!? Are you using a window mount or a bean bag?

Registered on November 19, 2009, 12 Posts, 21 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 20, 2009 at 8:57 AM

"Are you using a window mount or a bean bag?"

Neither. I use a Noodle - one of those foam tube swimming pool toys cut to length, slit down the middle and placed over the window. Works great. Cheap too.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on November 20, 2009 at 9:07 AM

Just beautiful Ron. You should be called the 'Harrier Whisperer'.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 20, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Gorgeous, Ron. Wonderful lighting. I remember commenting to my wife this summer that I didn't recall ever seeing a harrier perched on our local prairies. A very unusual and striking image. The fluffed up plumage is really great.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 20, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Spectacular!

I'd be fine with darker shadows from the natural sidelight, by the way.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on November 20, 2009 at 10:49 AM

Wonderful Ron, I really enjoy your photography.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 20, 2009 at 11:06 AM

Superb, Ron. Not much else I can say. I never see harriers perched like this. The light, the eye, the tail, the body, the perch. Just wonderful. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 20, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Simply fabulous!!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 20, 2009 at 4:31 PM

Stunning.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ron McCombe on November 20, 2009 at 6:59 PM

Fantastic image, I love the light, the disheveled feathers and the none intrusive background

Registered on November 16, 2009, 190 Posts, 207 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on November 20, 2009 at 7:50 PM

Incredible shot, Ron. I love it!

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 20, 2009 at 10:54 PM

what an amazing pose--it doesn't get much better than this. the combo of the fluffed plumage and spread tail is absolutely spectacular. The side lighting works for me, although I suppose I wish that the outer left tail feathers weren't quite so bright. This is a simply fantastic shot.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on November 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Wonderful capture, Ron! The lighting is just perfect; very nice.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 21, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Ron,

She is a spectacular harrier specimen in great & interesting light, love the fanned tail, how well we can see both the iris & pupil and detail in the dark feathers. I think you pocessed this very well as I can see texture in those darker feathers and don't see any noise.

Excellent as posted.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on November 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM

This has everything. Great light, amazing pose, good fine detail and perfect composition - a real winner!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 22, 2009 at 5:59 AM

Great shot Ron - love the ruffled feathers

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on November 22, 2009 at 2:09 PM

That is the most beautiufl harrier image I have ever seen. I love love love the light and the ruffled feathers.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments