Photographing birds is a passion of mine. Some people would add, including myself, it might even be fair to categorize it as a near obsession. It would be an accurate assessment actually. I love birds and the challenge to photograph them equally as much.
One bird, however, has eluded me for years, the northern harrier. This large raptor has been an extremely challenging species of bird personally for me to photograph. They are plentiful. Not a hard bird to find by any means but one I have always had a hard time getting close enough to for a great image. They always seem to turn or bank away just outside the acceptable range of my 600 mm lens. But last week my luck changed, at least for one image anyways, as I was able to get a decent image of a flying northern harrier.
I photographed this northern harrier on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge last week as I was headed out to view the migrating tundra swans again. The refuge is an exceptional place to view harriers in action. In fact, I can’t remember if I have ever visited this particular refuge without ever seeing at least one harrier searching for voles, mice and other rodents. Most days, I reluctantly admit, they are so plentiful I actually don’t pay as much attention to them as I should.
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge plays host to the northern harrier year round. The 12 mile drive down forest street to get to the auto tour route, along with the auto tour route itself, is a great place to view the northern harrier. This particular bird was found on the self guided 12 mile auto tour route. Below is a 360 degree image of part of the refuge auto tour route to give readers an idea of what the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge looks like. Quite often northern harriers can be found searching up and down along the grassy edges of this gravely refuge road.
I was excited to finally get an acceptable image of a northern harrier but it wouldn’t be fair to not include some of the other birds I was able to view while on the refuge auto tour route. As soon as I arrived a prairie falcon took off from one of the refuge signs. It was quickly followed by a juvenile bald eagle contently perched on another refuge sign. Bald eagles were very plentiful, as were rough legged hawks, canada geese, tundra swans, numerous species of ducks, great blue herons, and a greater yellow leg for good measure.
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It seems spring migration is under way. I am noticing more and more birds each and every time I visit the refuge. I am anxiously awaiting birds such as the yellow headed blackbird and the white faced ibis to give me hope spring is just around the corner but until then I will continue to visit the refuge with my renewed energy to photograph the northern harrier.
Come visit the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge this year. It is a great vacation spot for birders and nature lovers alike. Brigham City offers all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay and the refuge offers solitude just a few short miles away. Subscribe to our blog for updates and reports from the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and adjoining Great Salt Lake ecosystem, both fascinating places one can visit in a day’s trip.
