I watched a female Northern Harrier lift from a field and sweep across the open ground. Seconds later, she dropped into thick brush and disappeared from view.
A Female Northern Harrier Hunts Low
I photographed this harrier at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Another wildlife photographer and I parked at opposite corners of the field. That gave the bird room while we waited with our cameras ready.
The harrier took flight and moved low across the field. She soon dove toward the ground, then landed deep in the brush.
I could tell she had caught something, but the brush hid it from me. I watched her eat from my position without seeing the prey.
Northern Harriers have a white rump and an owl-like face. These field marks can help identify the species as it flies low across open ground.
Photographing the Harrier in Flight
The bird gave me little time once she left the ground. I tracked her flight with a Canon EOS R7 and a Canon RF 100-500mm lens.
My fast shutter speed helped freeze the movement as she crossed the field. The 500mm focal length gave me enough reach from my parked position.
Camera settings
- Date and time: February 28, 2023, at 9:18 a.m.
- Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/8
- Shutter speed: 1/3200 second
- ISO: 1250, Auto ISO
- Focal length: 500mm
One More Northern Harrier Encounter
I never saw what this female Northern Harrier caught, but her low flight made the encounter worth watching. The two photos preserve the part of the hunt I could see.
I shared another close refuge encounter in Capturing the Grace of the Northern Harrier In Flight. You can also see a younger bird in my post about a Juvenile Northern Harrier