This Was No Ordinary Day

Northern Harrier Flying thru a Snow Storm

This was no ordinary day out with my camera — it was snowing. A dream for me, filming wildlife in the snow. At the refuge, it began as a light snowfall, increasing little by little as time passed. The world slowly softened.

Earlier, I had seen a harrier, but with no luck capturing anything. I decided to park in an area where he often hunts and set up my camera. I wanted to be ready. I stood still, watching.

As I scanned the skies through the falling snow, I noticed something flying toward me — straight and low, dipping through the tall grasses with effortless grace.

It was the Harrier.

Incredible — not even a snowstorm could stop him.

The winds had picked up, at times carrying him backward and lifting him high into the sky. He hunted quietly in the distance, focused and persistent. And then, just as suddenly, he was gone — moving on to his next place, as swiftly as he had arrived.