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Northern Harriers 2
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Northern Harriers 2

by Ron Dudley

Gallery: AvianPosted August 21, 20086,347 views48 comments
February 11, 2008. Two days ago I posted a shot of these two birds fighting that didn't show either head. In comments several of you suggested that if I had other images of the interaction that did show the heads and used them in a series that even the headless shot would be a nice addition.

So, I started digging. I hadn't looked carefully at the images from this day for a long time and found about a dozen shots that I quite like. This is one of them. I posted a shot somewhat similar to this one, from the same session, last winter.

The juvenile on the left made repeated efforts to get at the dead Mallard that the adult female was feeding on (underneath her). The adult wasn't fond of the notion and their battles gave me some images that I like a lot. Thanks Peter and Richard, for tweaking me a little to go digging.

40D, 1/1250, f/10, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, tripod, cropped to 55% of original image, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

48 comments
Comment posted by Michael Ginex on August 21, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Spectacular detail and action, Ron. I never catch one these guys on the ground let alone two in a fight....with prey to boot. That raised talon and open beak is awesome looking. This shot is over the top as far as I'm concerned. Just beautiful.
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 16, 2007, 80 Posts, 353 Comments
Comment posted by Carl Roos on August 21, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Ron, this image is beyond words. I would love to have anything even close to this image for my portfolio. Thanks for sharing :toast: :toast:
Registered on May 25, 2005, 57 Posts, 345 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 21, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Yes! Great interaction captured here; wonderful body positions on both birds; a peak moment in the action.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Harbour on August 21, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Great shot, Ron. wonderful action and details. Gorgeous :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 21, 2008 at 8:55 PM
This might be the best of all of them Ron, fantastic image. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Sandy Young on August 21, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Better. Great. I have to ask - You did not know you had this shot? If I did, I think I would have already framed it. Congrats - SandyLee
Registered on April 24, 2006, 39 Posts, 173 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 21, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Ron,

Your images of Harriers are always inspiring and this one is no exception, the action is incredible, and that talon up in the air is great. I like your choice of DOF and composition and the colors are wonderful.

Awesome image as posted.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on August 21, 2008 at 9:11 PM
I knew you had others in your back pocket Ron! This is fantastic! The action and behavior are just top notch! Well done :toast:
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 21, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Sandy Young said "I have to ask - You did not know you had this shot? "

Sandy - Last winter I posted a total of four harrier images from this session and one other session where the birds were feeding on a carp. After that many harrier posts I just decided that I didn't want to become a "one species kinda guy" and besides I wondered if NPN'ers had had enough of them so I just quit. Then yes, I pretty much forgot about them until recently when I was showing them to a friend.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 21, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Ron, This is fantastic! I love the left hand bird. The expression, the open beak (I swear I can hear her), the raised foot and open talon. WOW! The interaction is just incredibly well captured.

Congratulations. :toast: :toast:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 21, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Kung Fu Harrier? I remember the shots you posted last winter from this encounter, Ron, and you had some great ones. This strikes me as just the kind of photo series that the old nature magazines would like-I don't know if anyone's doing that kind of thing anymore or not. This is another very nice image. I like the postures a lot. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 21, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Terrific capture, techs and composition. Just outstanding.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 22, 2008 at 12:50 AM
The action and the raised leg are superb Ron
:toast: :toast:

cheers Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Graham Brown on August 22, 2008 at 3:01 AM
A terrific action shot, you've caught the moment just right. Wish i had got shots like this that i haven't processed.
Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by Praveen Unni on August 22, 2008 at 6:07 AM
Amazing action shot Ron.. Thanks for sharing :toast:
Registered on March 20, 2006, 149 Posts, 416 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on August 22, 2008 at 7:20 AM
A great action shot Ron. I really like this one... nice shooting!
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on August 22, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Over the top Ron.....fanastic!!
:toast: :toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Loulou Beavers on August 23, 2008 at 6:49 AM
Great shot, nice action and details!
Registered on June 21, 2008, 73 Posts, 205 Comments
Comment posted by Satie Sharma on August 23, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Fantastic shot, Ron. I agree this is the best of the series yet. :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments
Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on August 23, 2008 at 4:29 PM
An image I will remember.
Exceptional shot.
Giorgio.
Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 24, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Excellent Ron!! :toast:
Wish it was mine :wink:
Howard
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 25, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Ron, I cannot believe you left this unprocessed for so long! This is a super image :toast:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 25, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Congrats on your EP Ron!!!!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Andrew Yip on August 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Great behavior image! Congrats on the EP.
Registered on May 7, 2008, 130 Posts, 679 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 25, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Super image Ron.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 26, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Ron,

Congratulations on the EP. Well deserved, this is a wonderful image!

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by raymond j barlow on August 26, 2008 at 12:04 PM
incredible image Ron., a big hand shake, and congrats.
Registered on March 29, 2007, 218 Posts, 964 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 26, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Ive never seen an avian shot quite like this before! Great dynamics--congrats!
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 26, 2008 at 5:03 PM
That looks vicious. But if I was really hungry and food was scarce and I was an inexperienced hunter? Yeah I might risk fighting for it. Wow, what a shot. Congrats. :toast:
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on August 26, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Well deserved EP, this is just an awesome shot.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on September 5, 2008 at 6:58 PM
An awesome shot. :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Appleton on September 28, 2008 at 4:43 PM
wow!!! to see this still with time to look just shows what amazing creatures they are - amazing pic!
Registered on August 25, 2008, 32 Posts, 74 Comments
Comment posted by richard ettlinger on October 12, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Killer shot Ron! Can't believe I missed it! :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 4, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Congratulations on the 2008 award, Ron. Well earned! You work harder at this than anyone I know. :toast: :toast: Oh, and the photo is still fantastic by the way... :jump:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on January 4, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Ron,

I have not had a chance to participate for some time and just checked in tonight to see that this photo won the 2008 award. Well deserved! I loved it when i first saw it and I still do. Congratulations. :toast:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on January 4, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Fantastic interaction well freezed in time Ron, very well deserves top honor ! Congratulations !! :wavey: :toast:
Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 5, 2009 at 12:18 AM
I don't visit this gallery nearly often enough. I can see I've missed some good work. This feels like a very unique image. Congrats on the 2008 EPA.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on January 5, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Congratulations on your award, Ron! Well deserved! :smile:
Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on January 5, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Ron:
It's still an awesome shot and fully deserving of the annual award. Congratulations for a well-earned honor and thanks for all you contribute to the Avian Gallery. :toast: :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 5, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Congratulations Ron! Fantastic image.
Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments
Comment posted by dan elster on January 5, 2009 at 12:35 PM
You have a number of images that are worthy of pic of the year. This one is fantastic Ron. congratulations. :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments
Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on January 6, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Congratulations, Ron! :toast:
Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on January 7, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Congrats, Ron! Well deserved award!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on January 9, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Such an amazing shot Ron. Congats on the 2008 EP!

:toast:
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 10, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Congrats on this exceptional image Ron. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Pat
Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments
Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on January 11, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Congratulations on the EPA, Ron - that's one fierce action shot: Kung-Fu harrier! :toast:
Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments
Comment posted by David Kjaer on January 16, 2009 at 7:00 AM
W :eek: W Ron now that is an action shot and a worthy winner!

David :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on March 16, 2018 at 12:38 AM
Great action, great light, great detail. Amazing shot.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments