The natural world is full of epic bouts that make for equally epic photographs. But to do that, it involves luck, timing, and patience on the part of the photographer. Henrik Nilsson recently captured incredible action shots of a marsh hawk (aka northern harrier) stealing a meal from a short-eared owl in mid-air. The crisp, dynamic images are simultaneously a look at nature’s beauty and its ferociousness.
Nilsson is based in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, where short-eared owls arrive from the north during wintertime. “Their preferred habitat includes grasslands and marshes,” Nilsson explains to My Modern Met. “It is an environment usually shared with other raptors, including northern harriers. This particular owl had just successfully hunted a vole. However, its prize was quickly discovered by a female harrier. Harriers will often try to steal prey from the owls, and thus an aerial battle ensued.”
You never know when that magical image will come along; it’s often about being in the right place at the right time. “The image was captured as I was returning to my vehicle towards the end of the day after photographing the owls in flight,” he recalls. “It was an unexpected moment that lasted mere seconds.”
Luckily, Nilsson still had his camera gear out and ready to go. “After a rather quick scramble, I was able to capture only a few images before the airborne battle was over. The owl made twists and turns but with talons locked, it decided to let go of the vole.” The harrier won the meal.
To see more of the photographer’s work, you can follow Henrik Nilsson on Instagram, where he shares many wildlife videos.
Photographer Henrik Nilsson captured incredible action shots of a northern harrier stealing a rodent from a short-eared owl in mid-air.
