Northern Harrier ♀ flight
Jan 27, 2021 22:22:26 #
Appy
Loc: Flint Hills (Ks)
JohnnyDW wrote:
Thank you for the positive review Appy! Not sure it's a Harrier. I'm sending the image to
a biologist friend and will post their professional opinion if I get one.
a biologist friend and will post their professional opinion if I get one.
I don't consider myself an expert Johnny, but I would guess that gorgeous hawk may be an immature Swainson's. I looked through my Field Guide and that's the closest match I could find.
Harriers have a bright white rump patch at top of the tail. Can't see the top side on this one, but they are also pretty dark on the back and topside of their wings. Close call. Here is one in Kansas I got a few weeks back and I wasn't sure on it either. But you can just make out the beginning of that white rump patch I mentioned. Also a darker head.
Jan 27, 2021 23:45:15 #
JohnnyDW
Loc: Richmond and Sunshine Valley British Columbia
Thanks Appy. I see a lot of Harriers here and this one was about the right size for a female. I agree, the coloration is too light to be one. We have Goshawks around here so that's a good possibility.
I need to go back in my files for that day and look at the rejects as he/she flew away. Might get a better
idea from those. Here are a couple of those signature white tail patches from certified Harriers :}
I need to go back in my files for that day and look at the rejects as he/she flew away. Might get a better
idea from those. Here are a couple of those signature white tail patches from certified Harriers :}
Jan 28, 2021 00:19:35 #
Jan 28, 2021 00:48:42 #
Jan 28, 2021 10:49:17 #
Fine shot! Saw a darker colored one the other day with the same white tail band. Not a good enough look to find an I.D. Only had a short zoom so no photo.
Jan 28, 2021 13:04:45 #
JohnnyDW wrote:
Thanks Sylvias! I was born in Lancaster. Love northern England.
Jan 28, 2021 17:42:14 #
Jan 28, 2021 17:49:40 #
Jan 28, 2021 17:53:56 #
JohnnyDW
Loc: Richmond and Sunshine Valley British Columbia
If anyone is still watching this thread, I said I would have a professional ID this hawk. Here is his answer:
"Hello John, thanks for your photo of the Accipiter. I think this is an immature N. Goshawk, its difficult to determine size sometimes by a single picture but this bird looks big, deep in the chest and wide in the wing. All attributes of a Goshawk. They usually show a supercillium, an eye line above the eye from in front of it to flaring wider behind. I don't see much of that in this picture but part of the face is in shadow so difficult to tell.
"The only other raptors that look like this are immature Cooper's Hawks and Gyrfalcons. Your bird looks too deep in the chest and wide in the tail to fit even a large female Cooper's and Gyrfalcons have a dark moustachial line vertically from below the eye through the cheek. Absent here. Gyr's also have a more heavily lined undertail with evenly spaced dark and pale lines. Your bird has fewer lines and the paler ones seem to be wider than the dark."
"Hello John, thanks for your photo of the Accipiter. I think this is an immature N. Goshawk, its difficult to determine size sometimes by a single picture but this bird looks big, deep in the chest and wide in the wing. All attributes of a Goshawk. They usually show a supercillium, an eye line above the eye from in front of it to flaring wider behind. I don't see much of that in this picture but part of the face is in shadow so difficult to tell.
"The only other raptors that look like this are immature Cooper's Hawks and Gyrfalcons. Your bird looks too deep in the chest and wide in the tail to fit even a large female Cooper's and Gyrfalcons have a dark moustachial line vertically from below the eye through the cheek. Absent here. Gyr's also have a more heavily lined undertail with evenly spaced dark and pale lines. Your bird has fewer lines and the paler ones seem to be wider than the dark."
Jan 28, 2021 20:36:24 #
Appy
Loc: Flint Hills (Ks)
JohnnyDW wrote:
If anyone is still watching this thread, I said I ... (show quote)
Great follow through! The fellow who furnished your ID sounds like he knows what he's talking about, so you did good on that too. I never did catch where it was you took the opening photo, which might help to narrow things down. But THIS year things seems to be a little different in terms of territories. I don't ever recall seeing Rough Leggeds here in the Flint Hills of Kansas, but maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention. This year I've seen about a dozen of them right in the area of my ranch. I loved seeing your exceptional photos (thanks for the extras!) and enjoyed the back and forth. Always good to learn something and I love the birds!
Jan 28, 2021 21:47:46 #
JohnnyDW
Loc: Richmond and Sunshine Valley British Columbia
Thanks Appy. The hawk was shot at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ladner BC.
Take a look at my Dec 31, 2020 post for a nice Rough-Legged I shot at
Roberts Bank in Ladner. Interesting that you are seeing so many in your area.
Take a look at my Dec 31, 2020 post for a nice Rough-Legged I shot at
Roberts Bank in Ladner. Interesting that you are seeing so many in your area.
Jan 28, 2021 22:58:18 #
Appy
Loc: Flint Hills (Ks)
I remember seeing that one, along with a bunch of others. I see you have put together quite a resume of incredible photos. Who could forget those gosling shots?
I'm just getting started in photography again. Nowhere even near your skill level, so I really enjoy seeing the great stuff others do. I lived in BC mountains for a while in '80 while working on a writing project. Also studied NWCoast carving and art. Wonderful people and loved the country. I have friends living in the Vancouver area.
Looking forward to see more of your work, pard.
I'm just getting started in photography again. Nowhere even near your skill level, so I really enjoy seeing the great stuff others do. I lived in BC mountains for a while in '80 while working on a writing project. Also studied NWCoast carving and art. Wonderful people and loved the country. I have friends living in the Vancouver area.
Looking forward to see more of your work, pard.
Jan 29, 2021 08:55:55 #
JohnnyDW wrote:
Nikon D5
400mm f/2.8
1/2500 sec
f/5.6
ISO 1400
400mm f/2.8
1/2500 sec
f/5.6
ISO 1400
Great capture with that 400 F2.8
Jan 29, 2021 15:26:35 #
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