northern harrier

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1st yr bird.

She was hunting along the shore of a lake, and flew in my direction

A Northern Harrier flying close to the ground looking for prey.

I was less than a quarter mile into my walk when he flew right in front of me!

Backlit by the sun, this northern harrier was in the classic hunting stance in flight. This is often how you see harriers - flying low over the grasses, looking down, then suddenly plunging into the grasses and coming up with its prey - anything from a rabbit to a rat to a moorhen.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) female.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) juvenile male.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) male.

2nd image of series...

On a day trip my brother and I went looking for a Northern Harrier he ( my brother ) had sighted. This bird flew onto this snag where I was able to get several good images. The bird was quite confiding, and did not seem put off by my approach.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area.

We saw quite a few harriers out on the Pt. Reyes peninsula trail that day, both in light and dark morphs so we know there were at least two, but I think I saw three in the air at once also. Only caught this one on camera, though.

Early morning capture.

Female Northern Harrier, reddish breast.

I saw her along with three other females and one "Ghost"

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier @ Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Northern Harrier @ Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

I was getting ready to archive my 2013 photos when I came across a few I think are worthy of uploading to the forum. This is one, it was taken during a day trip with Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory led by Sheri Williamson (she wrote the Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds).

I wish it was the lighting was better, the sky was over cast. This was the sharpest image I could get.

As soon as I pointed the camera at this little fellow, he took off...