A Gray Ghost

A very close look at a male Northern Harrier

The wide expanse of farmland in Pinal County offers a great winter home for many birds including a large influx of a variety of raptors. After an absence of over a year, I finally spent a long morning there. It was a nice morning but what I came across close to the end of my trip made the whole adventure worthwhile. At a sod farm, in the distance I spotted a large and rather white bird on the ground. Through binoculars I was able to recognize this bird as a male Northern Harrier!

As the range map from Cornell's Allaboutbirds website indicates, we do not have Northern Harriers in Arizona during most of the year. In the winter- what the map shows as blue "non-breeding" season- many Northern Harriers arrive here.

I drove my car very haltingly on the bumpy dirt road as I approached the Harrier. I stopped to take photos often not knowing how the bird might react or if and when it might take flight. The raptor may have been drinking or bathing but it was comfortable in the water. You can see the species' flat owl-like face. Much like owls, Harriers use excellent hearing to aid in their search for prey.

I was sitting still in the car and eventually the Harrier decided it was time to move on. It leapt out of the water, extending those long wings ready for the forceful downward push that would carry it into the air.

It took a moment to pick up speed. Every part of the Harrier's body seemed to be active in this shot.

The Harrier is finally moving forward horizontally. Northern Harriers fly low to the ground

It needed one more giant push to get up to flight speed.

Male Northern Harriers are known as the "Gray Ghost". Their gray color and the 'floaty' flight pattern likely gave it that nickname. Northern Harriers were once known as "Marsh Hawks". They hunt over open areas such as agricultural lands, marshes, grasslands and wetlands.

The Gray Ghost cruised on past me.

During most winters I see quite a few female or immature Northern Harriers. Those birds are brown. Seeing a Gray Ghost at all, much less at such close quarters, was a real treat.