Northern Harriers abound on the endless grassy plains of the Arizona south. I cannot remember a day since we moved here that we have not seen three of four coursing across the tops of the fields in an adroitly acrobatic high-speed search for their next meal. It is one of nature's most exciting and engaging shows.

With all those harriers at work, it is still rare to see an elusive Gray Ghost, or mature male, bird. Females and immature Harriers which are brown on top are plentiful and easily witnessed, but the males stay scarce. Which is why we were surprised to see two Gray Ghosts in the pastures on the outskirts of Elgin yesterday morning. While one worked for its meal, the other watched attentively and serenely from a perch nearby. Add to the scene a beautiful, but distantly perched Prarie Falcon and you can begin to get a sense of why this land of the "Old West" mythos is so extraordinary.
Shoot Date: February 10, 2018
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Aperture priority ¹⁄₂₅₀₀ sec at f/8.0 0 EV
Lens: TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011 @ 600 mm
ISO: 640