Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
One of the local northern harriers taunted me again the other day. This time I got a little closer. This is what a female harrier looks like at the last moment before she gets annoyed enough to fly off.
In case you’re wondering: Yes. Our dog was on leash.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) perched near the trail and I’ve not had my camera. And having my camera seems to guarantee they’re in flight, at a distance. But oneday this male stopped. It’s not what I wanted. I’ll keep trying.
Harriers fly low as they search for food across marshlands and fields, taking sudden turns and dives. The British Royal Air Force named its Harrier aircraft after these birds, inspired by their maneuverability.
Here is a female northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) looking for dinner. Like other raptors, their beaks are hooked and they have strong legs and sharp talons. Members of this bird family, Accipitridae, have eyesight that is four to eight times better than that of humans. Notice how the long, narrow outer primary feathers on the wing to the right separate into “fingers.” These “fingers” allow birds to fly at lower speeds without stalling.
By coincidence my posts for the rest of this week are all about birds. Check in for more shots of feathered friends.