Northern Harrier II

Gallery: AvianPosted December 7, 2009226 views18 comments

So, today it got to all of 26 degrees, and the wind was wipping out of the arctic. But, the sun was out, and low in the sky, so off to Nisqually I went, but not before donning my camo cold weather gear, and these snazzy gloves the my wife bought for me that have little pockets for heat packets. So, I was prepared this time!

This female Northern Harrier appears as though it is heading from left to right across the frame, but this is not at all the case. I saw it coming from quite a distance, sideways with the wind. So as I watched it coming at me through the viewfinder, it just kept getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger! It happened so fast I only got two frames off! I snapped this one as I reacted, jumping out of the way, because I thought this bird was going to take me out! The bird must have been startled as well, as it hovered against the wind looking at me, until it figured out I wasn't a bush, and moved out quickly!

Olympus e3
Olympus ZD 300 2.8 w/2x
ISO 500
f5.7
1/1000th
Bogen 0550 Pro w/4231 head (pan and tilt)

I added canvas on the bottom, left and top. The birds flat head on the right is just the way it was! Comments and critiques welcome. Thanks.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 8, 2009 at 12:39 AM

I remember you complaining about not being to able to get anything on this just a week ago and now you have one practically land on you.

Great detail and lighting.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 8, 2009 at 3:15 AM

Lovely light and nice detail Mike

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by James Campbell on December 8, 2009 at 5:18 AM

Great lighting and pose here, Mike. What an experience to have it come so close to you! I can see why you added canvas, as it is quite large in the frame - I would like to see a little more space below the harrier and perhaps a little less on top? But just a thought really.. Awesome capture

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 8, 2009 at 6:14 AM

Gorgeous light on this beautiful raptor Mike! If you had to add canvas this bird was really filling your frame, wasn't it? Ideally a bit more room below would be better compositionaly as that is the direction the bird is looking into.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 8, 2009 at 8:11 AM

Stunning light here Mike. If you had more room at the bottom ( can you add any more canvas ? ) this would be killer. I love it .

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 8, 2009 at 9:12 AM

All I can ask for is more room on the bottom which should be a simple task given the smooth bokeh. Sweet lighting, and EXCELLENT details on a species which is notorious for being extremely hard to get in sharp, details focus. As for this bird being blown by the wind, it's fascinating to watch them hunt in a stiff wind. When I see them around here it's usually down at the ocean around the dunes and the wind will be howling with these guys being blown sideways at amazing speeds.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Murali Santhanam on December 8, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Mike, Very sharp image. I would prefer a vertical picture with some more space below the bird.

Registered on July 31, 2008, 43 Posts, 331 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 8, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Killer shot Mike, excellent detail in the head and a great intense look on the bird's face.
May

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on December 8, 2009 at 1:45 PM

What a great shot, Mike! The info you give in the caption really adds to our appreciation of it too.

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on December 8, 2009 at 3:06 PM

Beauty, Mike. Wonderful pose, light and detail. I too would vote for more space below and less above but that is my only issue.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 8, 2009 at 3:48 PM

super, Mike! congrats! very nice light and great detail. I agree that adding a bit more canvas would be good (isn't that a nice problem to have?). If it were mine, I might try selectively brightening the eye a bit to see how it looks.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 8, 2009 at 4:18 PM

Mike,

You found some sweet light and a cooperative harrier, how awesome!

The only thing I could wish for is a touch more space below and in front of the harrier, but I love every thing else.

Big congrats on having one so close, it is fantastic to experience that.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on December 8, 2009 at 4:34 PM

The harriers are so active when it is windy, but I've never seen what you describe - the birds being swept across you horizontally. Congrats on getting so close and taking such good advantage of it.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 8, 2009 at 4:45 PM

Super shot Mike. I go along with the others on just a bit more space below the bird. Everything else is sweet!

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

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 8, 2009 at 5:34 PM

AWESOME IMAGE!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 8, 2009 at 7:48 PM

Good for you Mike! The lighting is exceptional, nice detail and wing position and rump exposure is excellent. As you well know, more room for the bird on the bottom would help the image as would some light in the eye.

My favorite time to photograph the species is in a moderate wind when they're hunting and I've been the recipient of the benefits of this "side-sliding" on several occasions. It's almost like they're so intent on negotiating the wind and their potential prey that they sometimes forget that you're there. Fun stuff.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 8, 2009 at 9:54 PM

Way cool, Mike! We've had a male hanging about recently but I've never been in a position to get him. Nothing like being prepared. Lovely lighting and a very crisp image.

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

Comment posted by David Williams on December 9, 2009 at 4:31 PM

One of my favorite "cruisers", Mike. Nicely captured for a spur-of-the-moment shot!

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments