not bothering us, but gorgeous visitor today....great northern harrier

[WthrLady]

He's far more interested in the field mice and the 13 stripe ground squirrels in the hay meadow. GORGEOUS raptor. (Sorry the photos are blurry, he was 7 acres away! LOL)

 

[WthrLady]

and as soon as it is done processing, here is the short slow motion video. I love raptors, as long as they stay out of the chickens!

http://youtu.be/mjwNutBCcn8

 

[aart]

That's a great pic!!

Was it flying against the wind?

 

[WthrLady]

Yes. He was hovering against a 30mph wind, which allowed him to just 'float' with minor adjustments, then powie! Drop and grab a rodent!

 

[torilovessmiles]

So gorgeous, lovely shot! And what an opportunity to see him hovering and hunting like that! Do you get a lot of these birds around?
My rooster is good about keeping his eyes on the sky and calling the alarm, so I haven't lost a chicken to birds of prey yet

I love them though! A couple of bald eagles have been spotted close by recently, I'm dying to get a picture!

 

[WthrLady]

Daily, and more than one. Right after this shot, two more showed up.
I back up to reserve and am all country all around. We have the harriers, coopers, sharp tails, owls, falcons....... fun times. Girls only ring from the sharps and coopers. Harriers are huge, almost 4 foot span, surprised they don't bother the girls.

My outdoor run has rope spaced far smaller than wing span, so that should do it.

 

[WthrLady]

Bald eagles wintered at our place in Florida. They would make off with people's small dogs.

 

[arialp]

Very cool!

I live right behind the 386 highway and we a couple of red tailed hawks. Here's a pic....

 

[aart]

Daily, and more than one. Right after this shot, two more showed up.
I back up to reserve and am all country all around. We have the harriers, coopers, sharp tails, owls, falcons....... fun times. Girls only ring from the sharps and coopers. Harriers are huge, almost 4 foot span, surprised they don't bother the girls.

My outdoor run has rope spaced far smaller than wing span, so that should do it.

Maybe:

 

[WthrLady]

Ahhhhhh!

Hoping 7 acres oozing with mice will keep them happy.