Surprise Backyard Harrier

Posted by Jim Zipp on Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:22 am

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It's not unusual for me to put a leftover chicken carcass in my backyard for the redshoulders. I was in New Mexico for a week and when I returned I put one out. For 2 days nothing found it. Then I looked out early the other morning and saw one had found it. Something didn't look right and when I looked closer I couldn't believe that there wasn't a redshoulder but a harrier

. In my 22 years there I had only seen harriers flying high overhead durning the fall migration. The meadow is small and I had never had one.

I grabbed my camera and 400 5.6 and ran out to the barn bearfoot.... 4 degrees

and fired off a half dozen shots before he left. He did return and spend an hour and a half on the carcass on the ground 10 minutes later. You just never know what will show up!

10D, 400 5.6, ISO 200 from barn window sill.

Jim Zipp
http://www.jimzippphotography.com

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by Safariguy on Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:35 am

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Great story...hope your toes aren't froze...

Love that light and I really like the BG.

Cheers,

Jeff
AKA Safariguy
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by fredcor on Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:35 am

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You are some lucky guy, having raptors in your back yard! Great shot.

Frederick Lat Correa

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by Jim Neely on Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:58 am

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That's dedication, Jim. It paid off well, too.

Great light and a good harrier image. The BG is a bit of a pain, but that's where the bird was. The stump is neat.

jn

[b]Jim Neely - Dripping Springs TX[/b]
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by LHays on Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:09 am

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Jim
Excellent going with that one. I ran out to our pond early one morning in my PJ's and barefoot for a GBH.....first one I'd ever seen at our pond. Of course when I turned to come back in, I was greeted by my neighbor....who thinks I'm nuts anyway!!

Lana Hays
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by Alan Murphy on Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:32 am

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Jim, I'd run out naked if it ment getting a shot like this

I wish you had time to grab the flash.

Alan Murphy
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by Bill Whala on Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:32 am

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Another fine result from a rare opportunity. Super sweet!!

Bill Whala

"Aves of similar plumage tend to converge with one another"

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by Ken Cravillion on Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:38 am

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Nice, the BG is great.

Ken Cravillion

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by BrianS on Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:27 pm

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Good Golly what a story. With a poor sense of smell I am surprised raptors recognize a cooked chicken carcass -- I'll be giving this trick a try.

Great Image and as mentioned I hope your toes thaw.

[b]Brian Spangler[/b]
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by stevebein on Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:16 pm

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excellent, YOu sure have a productive back yard.

Steve Bein
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by MIG on Tue Jan 13, 2004 2:08 pm

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lovely lighting, and very clear detail. I wish could had such a productive backyard too.

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by Penney Goodwin on Tue Jan 13, 2004 5:25 pm

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Amazing. I'm wondering about this carcass, too. What about your songbirds? I have a red-shouldered who come and sits - too close, actually - for shots. One day I saw him get a finch, so I wonder about the days I am not chasing him away... now I am wondering about putting a carcass far, far-r away from feeders might satisfy him.

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by Marc Oliver on Tue Jan 13, 2004 6:52 pm

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cheers, Oliver

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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Tue Jan 13, 2004 6:58 pm

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Jim,

Very nice shot. I like the pose and the position of the wings. You sure had nice light.

Bruce DiVaccaro
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by Jim Zipp on Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:28 pm

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Laurel wrote:Amazing. I'm wondering about this carcass, too. What about your songbirds? I have a red-shouldered who come and sits - too close, actually - for shots. One day I saw him get a finch, so I wonder about the days I am not chasing him away... now I am wondering about putting a carcass far, far-r away from feeders might satisfy him.

Laurel,
Wow, I'm surprised that he got a finch! Unusual for a large buteo. If a sharpie or coop comes through all heck breaks loose but when the redshoulders come in everyone looks and then goes back to doing whatever they were doing. They pretty much ignore them totally! Had chicken tonight and I plan to put the leftovers out tomorrow. Since the cold weather came in I've had chickadees, bluejays, nuthatches and titmice also picking at the chicken as well as the hawks

. I think the really cold weather makes them look for more protein than usual.

Jim Zipp
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by Greg Downing on Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:45 pm

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I want to live in your barn! If I put chicken out the dogs will eat it in two minutes! Great shot and great story.

Greg Downing
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by Paul Fusco on Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:19 pm

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Nice shot, Jim!
That was a pretty cold day around here to be going barefoot.

Good dedication and CONGRATS on the perched harrier!

- Paul

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by Laura Stiefel on Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:40 pm

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Just gorgeous... And with the 400mm no less. I am so jealous.

Laura Stiefel
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