Yesterday I showed you a female harrier hawk having a look for dinner. Yesterday evening I had the good fortune to find a male harrier on the wing and I was witness to an air show I hadn’t seen before.
This bird was flying in great swoops, making big circles on the wing while calling.
If you’ve ever seen a hummingbird perform a courting dance, this harrier was putting on showy stunts of that sort, flying up, then soaring down dramatically. The downward dives were so fast most of my shots were blurred.
I hadn’t seen a harrier do this before. I assume there was an impressed female somewhere nearby. I know I certainly was.
If you notice differences between yesterday’s harrier and today’s, you’re correct. The females have more reddish coloration on their chests and wings. The males are more grey and white. They’re also smaller than females.
Nature gave you a special treat. You did a great job photographing the show.
They certainly are different in their colouring Kay. So lucky to capture them like this, such an impressive wing span!
Kay,
Great photos of a truly spectacular bird. An artful dance on the wing. Northern Harriers are just as spectacular in their everyday hunting sorties over the grass and along the brushy edges. In a gentle breeze they tack and jibe back and forth, tilting, gliding, rarely having to flap their wings as they float just above the grass. I could watch them for hours. Poetry in motion!
A quite impressive show and you captured it perfectly. Well done, Kay!
These are wonderful pics of this accomplished flyer, Kay!
Beautiful captures of this fellow.
Lucky you watching this display.