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Harriers Fighting
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Harriers Fighting

by Ron Dudley

Gallery: AvianPosted December 20, 2009422 views21 comments
This photo was taken yesterday morning through light fog and after a heavy frost. This looks as if it's a serious fight but I'm not completely convinced of that - they just seem to have too much fun doing it. It's not unusual for two or more of these birds to be hunting together (they often hunt singly of course) and then they will rush each other and have a short confrontation in the air and then resume hunting together as if nothing had happened.

The same thing often occurs when one harrier is perched on the ground and another happens by (as in this case). A furtive confrontation, then normalcy. I know it's anthropomorphic of me to think they might be doing it for fun but I can't help myself... I've seen it so very often and it's so different from when they are actually fighting directly over food. That I have also seen and believe me it's very different from this and very serious.

This is the first time I've seen this blue in the primaries (top bird). Perhaps a prismatic effect from the angle of the light and feathers?

7D, 1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 800, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, cropped to 49% of original image but then added a narrow strip of canvas at top for composition, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

21 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 20, 2009 at 7:47 PM
As soon as I saw this photo, I knew it was yours. Your explanation of the blues seems plausible to me. As for the action, I've seen this sort of thing several times as well, and it always look like it will be this intense fight, but it ends after a few moments.

The crop and the fog have hampered the quality a touch here, making the photo appear grainy but I'm sure when it's not scaled down that is a non-issue. The action is fantastic, you stopped it perfectly (gotta love that 7D!) and the exposure is spot on. Another incredible harrier shot - one of your finest, which certainly says a lot

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on December 20, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Nothing to add, except thanks for sharing a great action shot :toast:
Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 20, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Ron, I love the action and the frost. The fog and the bit of a distance to the birds do reduce the detail in the birds. The noise (lack there of) at ISO 800 looks good. The action, habitat, and position of the bottom bird really make this one for me. I love the behavior.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 20, 2009 at 8:36 PM
Ron, this is an incredible image. Thanks for sharing!! :toast:
Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 20, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Nice action!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 20, 2009 at 10:41 PM
The Harrier-whisperer strikes again ! Great action Ron :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 20, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Here we go! Another excellent Harrier capture, Ron. I think it must be pretty tough to get two birds in the same focal plane as you did here. If I had a choice, I'd prefer action that shows the Harriers "facing off" as in some of your past posts. Still, pretty incredible. :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 20, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Fantastic Ron - particularly like the colour of the birds against the silvery background

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 20, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Another excellent one Ron! Keep em coming!!
I like the interaction between the two birds you've captured. They look like they are very serious. :toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 20, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Remarkable image capturing some nuances of behavior I have not witnessed, interesting and beautiful at the same time. A bit more light on the scene might have given a bit of sparkle to the frost, two harriers shown in sharp focus demonstrating dynamic poses not enough for me... :biggrin:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Kirk Greene on December 20, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Excellent action shot. The 7D seems to be performing very well for you and the ability to shot with confidence @ ISO800 is priceless!
Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 21, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Gees, Ron! What a super shot!
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Jeff Harrison on December 21, 2009 at 4:07 AM
A superb action shot Ron :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2009, 9 Posts, 73 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 21, 2009 at 7:55 AM
great action shot and interesting observations to go with it. nice job with the canvas addition. could wish for a bit more light/detail, but it's a great capture as is.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 21, 2009 at 9:58 AM
I think they are showing off for your lens! You have made a great comp here, and I really like that extension of the lower bird.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on December 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
It's all been said, Ron! Great capture.
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 21, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Sweet one Ron!!! Great Action Scene!

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 22, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Ron,

Excellent work for shooting through the fog, the image does not appear grainy to me it just shows the effect of the fog we were in. Forty minutes earlier and we could not have even seen that distance!

Great action, wonderful to have both birds sharp at that distance given the weather conditions and light, ISO 800 sure pulled this off very well. Love the frosty setting, how well you were able to add the canvas, choice of comp and both birds poses are excellent.

A very interesting & appealing image as posted.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 22, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Wonderful action you captured very well Ron, I imagine the bit of blue is a prismatic effect. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Graham Brown on December 22, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Really great action shot Ron. Love the composition and the frosty background. Graham
Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on December 28, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Great job Ron.

I have never seen that blue look and your explanation is plausible. Interesting though.

I completely agree on the having fun part and do not find it anthropomorphic. :smile:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments