Nearly concealed female Northern Harrier – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
As a bird photographer I actively strive to photograph my subjects out in the open and without any distracting elements in the fore and background most of the time but I also enjoy taking images of birds that are nearly hidden, partially concealed or that blend into their habitat so well as to be nicely camouflaged.
Why? First, because I can and second because it shows the birds in habitat and how well their sometimes cryptic plumage can be used to their advantage. For instance, camouflaged nesting birds that blend into their habitat are less likely to succumb to predators while they are incubating. Third, some rules are meant to be broken.
I am blessed with terrific long distance vision and quite often I can spot birds with ease that people with less visual acuity have trouble seeing. If you have ever seen me with my glasses on I feel I should mention that the top part of my progressive lenses are basically clear. I only have trouble seeing things up close since I have advanced in age. I wear progressive glasses because I can’t stand taking readers off and putting them back on all day long. However, when I am in the field I take my regular glasses off and use readers so I can see the LCD screen on my camera. I never thought I’d be that woman with eye glasses hung around my neck but here I am, doing just that. My regular glasses just get in the way in the field so they get tucked into their case in my camera backpack.
Yesterday when I spotted a well concealed, female Northern Harrier who blended into her marshy habitat I knew I wanted to photograph her. She was surrounded by vegetation but stood out very well to my eyes.
The hen harrier has frost on the back of her head which indicates she may have spent the night tucked into this location.
Immature Northern Harrier nearly hidden in the marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
After getting back home and realizing how much I enjoyed viewing the images of the nearly concealed female Northern Harrier I remembered that I took a similar image of an immature harrier in practically the same location in January of 2019. I had processed the photo the day I took it and tucked it into a folder I use to save images that I might want to use in a future blog post or that I want to place in my photo galleries.
The immature Northern Harrier is a bit more concealed than the female in the photo above because of the vegetation in front of it but for me I still think of this as a hidden treasure because of how well it blends into its habitat. This female Northern Harrier and the immature harrier in the other photo are a classic examples of what I like to call a hidden treasure type of image.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Harrier photos plus facts and information about this species.
The “terrific long distance vision” is no joke! On the couple occasions I’ve been fortunate enough to drive around with you photographing, I was shocked by how you would not only pick out a raptor at a great distance, but confidently ID it before I could even see it! I admit to being a bit skeptical on the first ID or two before quickly realizing that you absolutely knew what they were and were not just guessing. Hope you are doing well!
BrianG, your comment made my day and I meant to reply earlier. Thank you for your testimony on my ability to spot birds at great distances. I am doing alright and I hope you are too. Hope we get to ride together again one day.
PS, it is nice to get credit for the birds I found for us.
Always like the “hidden treasures.”
Me too Jane!
I do envy your eagle eyes.
These days I have to put my glasses on to read. To read anything.
I love and am grateful for the birds in their camouflague too. Thank you.
Other people envy my eyes too EC.
Yeah, these photos are pretty great! Thank you!
Thanks Iris
So interesting to see harriers on the ground. I don’t think I ever have. Good eye! And thanks for sharing. Good luck to NH primary goers!
Tim, the harriers here will often roost on the ground overnight in the marshes, probably because there are so few trees. Seeing them hunt on the ground is neat to see as well.
Just back from my morning outing with my camera where I was photographing a female Northern Harrier. My photos are nowhere close to your awesome photos.
Glad you got to photograph some harriers too Liz!
Great photos, Mia. Love the rundown on the harrier too. Have taken many photos of HArriers at airshows
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Thanks Bob!
These are so unusual. I just love them.
Thank you Evelyn!