Immature Northern Harrier in flight up close – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Yesterday morning I enjoyed the scenic views that Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge offers and savored the quiet stillness that can be found there on winter mornings. It isn’t as birdy during the winter as it can be during spring and early summer but winter on the refuge has its own kind of appeal. I know that some people don’t like the word “magic” but if there isn’t magic in nature I really don’t know where there could be anything even close to it.
For instance, this immature Northern Harrier was coursing over the marsh, bothering a pair of Northern Pintails and just generally looking for something, anything, that it could capture for breakfast. The young Northern Harrier made several unsuccessful dives towards what I assume was prey and I felt like cheering it on even though I am well aware that it would mean that another bird or animal would need to die so the harrier could live. The immature Harrier lifted off after a failed attempt to capture prey and flew almost directly towards me. In this photo I can’t tell what the harrier was looking at.
Eye contact with an immature Northern Harrier – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Two frames later the immature Northern Harrier tilted its head, looked directly towards my lens, and seemed to eyeball me and my gear. I felt a brief connection between the young harrier and myself. I can’t say that the connection was strong or weak. I can’t say that the bird wasn’t just seeing its own reflection in the glass of my lens. All I can say is in that one moment that I felt an instant connection to this bird. That fleeting feeling has its own kind of magic.
Life is good.
Mia
*Typically I wouldn’t want to clip the wings of my subject as is seen in these two photos but in this case it was the eye contact I was focused on when composing these images and I cropped both images tighter than normal to draw more attention to the bird’s eyes.
Click here to view more of my Northern Harrier photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great timing! Great pics. Love the quizzical look on the Harriers (face?). I’ll bet he really was checking you out. So Cool. Thanks Mia.
And another vote for magic.
Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and the wonder.
Just WOW. I can never get that sharp a photo with my 200-500mm and the 1.4x TC.
I am so impressed with the clarity of the photos and the light in the eyes.
I know how hard it is to get a flight shot let alone a bird flying directly at you.
Mia your photos are amazing.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Magic, yes.
Wonderful shot xx Mia.
True magical moment!