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Harrier meal (Caution)
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Harrier meal (Caution)

by David Haynes

Gallery: AvianPosted April 11, 2014847 views25 comments
Nikon D4
1/4000
F/6.3
600mm + 1.4 TC
ISO 640
WB auto
Exposure Manual
Shot from truck window in nature preserve (bean bag)
Cropped only 39% (a rarity for me) :)

This harrier was the lucky recipient of a meal that had first been killed by a red tailed hawk and partially eaten only to have three harriers spook the RTH off the kill. One of the Harriers flew off with the prey and landed on a small island used by hunters during duck season. This poor coot was fought over by the three harriers only to have the RTH come back by and grab it again only to drop it about 50 yards away on the side of a dirt levee. This is where I captured the harrier come in and grab it and immediately take off again. This coot had been disemboweled and dropped a couple of times so it had dirt and sticks all over it.
Would certainly wish for a cleaner shot and not quite so gross but this is nature at its best. During winter this particular preserve in Southern California has lots and lots of raptors and the preferred food source is coots.
This harrier flew off with the coot and dropped it about 30 yards away where it started to eat it before two other harriers and another RTH came in for a bite as well. It was picked clean by no less than 4 different birds ( a little too far away to get clean shots) but it goes to show how one kill can feed several birds.
Hope you don't get too grossed out by this one. I almost didn't post it but my daughter said she thought it was cool. What do I know? :)
Anyway, let me know if you see something that's worth changing. Have a great weekend!

Comments

25 comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 11, 2014 at 10:27 PM
Spectacular David! Love the wing position, the meal (of course), the position in the frame, etc. Not sure I would want anything different in this. I have a hard time even getting close to a Harrier...so one with a meal certainly trumps anything I have in my portfolio....really west image. :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 11, 2014 at 11:05 PM
Looks excellent to me, David. Great wing position on the Harrier.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on April 12, 2014 at 12:06 AM
An enviable shot of a natural occurrence. This is nature at its best and beautifully captured. Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 12, 2014 at 3:31 AM
Wow :eek: .. You seen to have been at the right spot at the right moment... awesome ! Congrats with this :toast: , Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by John Neukirch on April 12, 2014 at 7:39 AM
WOW what a spectacular image. The position you captured the raptor in is compelling and the detail of the coot's innards is exceptional. Things really came to together for on this shot. The light, your position and most importantly your attentiveness to click the shutter button. Very well done! :toast:
Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 12, 2014 at 8:43 AM
Looks like both you & the Harrier have cashed in, it's a 'killer' image David :smile:
Techs look excellent, sharp details..
Nicely composed, very well done! :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on April 12, 2014 at 10:26 AM
Awesome. Everything is stack sharp. Great capture.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 12, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Definitely not for the cover of Ranger Rick, but a wonderful nature story shot. :toast: I don't see a thing I would change.
Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 12, 2014 at 1:43 PM
You sure nailed the moment. I like long vertical created by predator and prey. Obviously this could lead to a decision of cropping vertically, but including more of the nice background works quite well too.

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 12, 2014 at 2:45 PM
(Caution - This is Awesome) . What a great image with super action and great detail. Always tough to get the perfect comp on these action shots. I think this is fine as it, but if you had more room at the top a vertical might work well too. The eye contact, wing position and coot hanging from the talon all make this special. Congrats. :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 12, 2014 at 3:32 PM
This is awesome David. Maybe not an image I would hang in my living room, but the action you have captured is great. Superb job on the techs.
Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on April 12, 2014 at 9:49 PM
Really great action shot David. Good detail and action. I can't get close to Harriers but I am still trying.
Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on April 13, 2014 at 1:59 PM
Remarkable shot, David. The story makes it even better. :toast:
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 13, 2014 at 11:02 PM
Incredible catch!
Couldn't be better..

:toast: :toast: :toast:

Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 14, 2014 at 9:00 PM
Excellent as posted. I have no issues with the subject matter or the setting/background.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 15, 2014 at 11:55 AM
Interesting story and wonderful picture to go along. I like the take off pose with wings and tail extended as you get a good look at those wonderful feather patterns. Excellent shot David.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Marina Scarr on April 15, 2014 at 9:58 PM
This image is over the top amazing. Great action/behavior captured in super light. What a great image and story you have shared here.
Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 16, 2014 at 3:38 AM
Incredible photo David :eek: The detail is amazing for such fast action. I like the one footed grab too.
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 17, 2014 at 3:49 PM
Congrats David ! Well-deserved :toast: , Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 17, 2014 at 4:28 PM
Congrats on a very well-deserved WP!

Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on April 17, 2014 at 11:37 PM
Great shot! Congratulations on the WP.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 18, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Congrats on the WP David :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on April 19, 2014 at 6:46 PM
Awesome :toast: well deserving of this weeks WP :toast: And great documentation....
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on April 20, 2014 at 9:38 AM
Congratulations on a well deserved WP.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 3, 2015 at 11:46 PM
Good grief! :eek:
Amazing image and narrative! Congrats on the Pick, and the experience of seeing this and capturing the action.
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments