Northern Harrier chasing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Harrier chasing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This image of a Northern Harrier and a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in an aerial dogfight over Antelope Island State Park was taken the day before the recent snow storm started that we had here in the Salt Lake Valley over the weekend. I wish the raptors had been a bit closer than they were but I might have clipped the wing tips of the Harrier in this image if they had been closer. It seemed more like they were playing than actually fighting.

The “fight” only lasted a few seconds and no birds were harmed.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Northern Harrier photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.

By Mia McPherson|November 14th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: aerial dogfight, bird photography, Buteo jamaicensis, chasing, Circus hudsonius, fight, fighting, flight, flying, hariers, harrier, hawk, hawks, immature, juvenile, Northern Harrier, playing, raptors, Red-tailed Hawk|25 Comments

25 Comments

James October 24, 2013 at 6:50 pm

Great interaction and in great light…hard to get both in one shot!
Julie Brown November 17, 2012 at 7:59 am

Very cool interaction you captured here, Mia!
- Mia McPherson November 17, 2012 at 9:38 am
  
  Thanks Julie, it was fun to watch they in the air like this.
Matthew Sim November 16, 2012 at 8:18 pm

Great action shot!
- Mia McPherson November 17, 2012 at 9:35 am
  
  Thanks Matthew.
Tami November 16, 2012 at 9:44 am

Wow!
- Mia McPherson November 17, 2012 at 9:33 am
  
  Thanks Tami!
Bryce November 15, 2012 at 9:23 pm

I love this photo! Getting interspecies interactions in photo is challenging, and so rewarding. Couldn’t even count on one hand the amount of times it has happened for me. Too jealous. BTW I found another dark Roughie near Snowville, UT. I came away with a few good photos. It was a remarkable bird. Keep up the good work.
- Mia McPherson November 16, 2012 at 6:53 am
  
  Thanks Bryce, it was a challenge to track these raptors with my lens, they flew so fast!
  
  I hope that you will share your dark morph Roughie images on your blog. I’m still trying for decent images of them, they are so gorgeous.
Tammy Karr November 15, 2012 at 8:28 pm

I bet it was exciting to watch the interaction of these two raptors! Excellent capture Mia!!
- Mia McPherson November 16, 2012 at 6:52 am
  
  Thanks Tammy, it was very exciting!
Humming Bird Lover November 15, 2012 at 9:52 am

Hi! Great shot! Love looking at your Blog every day!
- Mia McPherson November 16, 2012 at 6:50 am
  
  Thank you Mom!
Wally November 15, 2012 at 9:41 am

Two wonderful raptors in one outstanding image. I am SOOO jealous! Very nice work. –Wally
- Mia McPherson November 16, 2012 at 6:50 am
  
  Thank you Wally!
Susan November 15, 2012 at 5:33 am

Fantastic capture Mia:)
- Mia McPherson November 16, 2012 at 6:48 am
  
  Thanks Susan, they were fun to watch.
Laurence Butler November 14, 2012 at 1:09 pm

Sweet
- Mia McPherson November 15, 2012 at 5:18 am
  
  Thank you Laurence.
Prairie Birder November 14, 2012 at 8:27 am

This is a great action shot, Mia!
- Mia McPherson November 15, 2012 at 5:19 am
  
  Thank you Charlotte, it was fun to see
Bob Bushell November 14, 2012 at 6:51 am

Quite a show.
- Mia McPherson November 15, 2012 at 5:19 am
  
  It was quite a show Bob, thanks for commenting
judy watson November 14, 2012 at 6:44 am

Outstanding!
- Mia McPherson November 15, 2012 at 5:19 am
  
  Thank you Judy.

Comments are closed.

Northern Harrier chasing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

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