Northern Harriers Feeding at EFLP

[houtex01]

Sometimes you just get lucky...late Thursday evening I decided to drive out to EFLP (El Franco Lee Park) to check the gazebo...the weather was very overcast and rather dreary...almost didn't go...arrived at the parking lot around 5:15PM...no one else was there...almost didn't take my camera...approached the walkway to the gazebo...stopped to view the area...did not see any birds on the water anywhere...thought this was rather strange...started easing out on the walkway toward the gazebo...had gone just a short distance when I noticed some movement on one of the small islands just off to the left of the front of the gazebo...quickly realized that it was some type of hawk...squatted down and slowly made my way out to the gazebo hoping not to spook the hawk...finally reached the gazebo and position myself behind one of the gazebo poles so that I could raise up...not only was the hawk still there but there were two of them feeding on something...looking at my photos I believe that they were feeding on a Coot...apparently they had just made the kill before I arrived...started taking photos...one of the hawks was in the open where I could see him...the other was on the backside of this little island...after watching them feed for a few minutes the hawk that was in the open walked over toward the other hawk and jumped toward it spooking it into flying off...it then returned to eating again...it then flew off...I sat down on the gazebo bench to look at my photos...I looked up and behold one of the hawks had returned to eat...so I got up and started taking photos again...it ate for a few minutes and then the other hawk flew by heading toward the West end of the park...the hawk eating took off and followed the other hawk...so again I sat down to view my photos...after couple of minutes I looked up and there was one of the hawks back on the island eating again...so I got back up and started taking photos again...suddenly the other hawk made a close flyby right in front of the gazebo and landed on the island...they both ate for a short time and one of them hopped out on a limb in the water and washed its beak off...finally as it was starting to get dark they flew off...I ended up shooting almost a thousand photos...sure wished that the lighting conditions would have been more favorable for photos...but you take what you get and just be happy with it...P/P was certainly a challenge for these...toward the end had to shoot at 1600 ISO...but happy with what I got and wanted to share the experience...hope you enjoy...C/C always welcomed...

Ron

[Tim T]

Great job Ron. It's very difficult to get close-up shots of Harriers on the ground. Good work.

[jfoureyes]

These are fabulous Ron...most of the photos I see of these guys are flight photos so these are a thrill to view!!!

[sbsbennett]

Great shots, Ron. These are tough birds to get to see up close.

Steve

[MichaelW]

Great set of shots.

[mak65]

All of these photos are outstanding! I should be so lucky to ever have such "poor" lighting conditions with such subjects. Truly awesome!

[mjdmike]

Great series Ron, great work!!

[Shadow]

Dang! I never get close to them. Wow, Senor!

[corralup]

That is really neat, Ron. Every time I see them working the ducks from the gazebo it's usually way in the back parts. I have yet to walk and discover that trail out there.
Pretty cool you found them where you did.

[sandboa]

Very cool sighting and great photo series.
They both appear to be females. I was expecting it to be a pair when I read your text.

[TxPhotoShooter]

Great find and excellent photos Ron. #1 and #2 are really nice.

[lhdvies]

Neat experience & great photos Ron-way to go!!

Leon

[houtex01]

Thanks everyone for viewing and leaving your comments...always appreciated and enjoy reading them...

Ron

[houtex01]

Originally Posted by sandboa

Very cool sighting and great photo series.
They both appear to be females. I was expecting it to be a pair when I read your text.

I agree Chris that they both appear to be females...I believe there is also a male Northern Harrier that has been spotted hanging out around the park...

Ron

[Stargazer77517]

Very cool Ron, Great series.