Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:50 PM
This is a series of shots of an adult Bald Eagle attempting to steal a fish from a Great Blue Heron. It was photographed on the east side of Hood Canal where I often see and photograph this type of interaction in the spring and summer when the Midshipmen fish are spawning. I have heard of occasional other instances of this type of interaction but nowhere as common as it is at this location. I am curious if any of you have seen or captured food competition interaction between these 2 species elsewhere.
If anyone has a favorite image, let me know.
Canon 5D3 1/1600 F9, iso 1600, manual exposure, the 5D3 did a nice job in keeping up with the action in this case despite the average 6 frames per second.
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Image #2
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Image #3, they are all cropped a fair bit already so I didn't crop any tighter
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:52 PM
Image #4
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Image #5, I posted this one in the critique forum as it was my favorite.
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Image #6, the heron ducks under the water to evade the eagle (usually it flies away squawking)
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Image number 7, in this image and in the next one the eagle is scanning for the dropped fish, which it didn't find in this instance.
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Image #8
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Image #9
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Image #10 and the last of the series as the eagle then flew off.
Love the entire sequence, Nate. If I was to make a choice on individual images it would come from the first three and probably number 3 there. The main reason is being able to see the majority of each bird in those frames. Number 3 really gives an excellent view of the impending action between the two also. The eagle is very prominent in that shot too. Well captured overall.......
Posted by Martin Dunn on August 28, 2013 at 3:16 AM
Wonderful sequence Nate. Very envious.
I particularly like the first shot as it sets the scene perfectly.
Posted by Greg Lessard on August 28, 2013 at 4:36 AM
Hi Nate, Scene 5 is my choice. The beauty of the eagle's wings makes it for me. This is also the moment where the drama is at its height for me. To me the whole story is being told, yet leaving the viewer with a sense of tension. Most people will ask "What happened next?" This is a fantastic interaction and you captured it well. Thank you for sharing it!
Posted by Ken Archer on August 28, 2013 at 4:44 AM
Discussion
21 repliesIf anyone has a favorite image, let me know.
Canon 5D3 1/1600 F9, iso 1600, manual exposure, the 5D3 did a nice job in keeping up with the action in this case despite the average 6 frames per second.
I particularly like the first shot as it sets the scene perfectly.
The images are great, the moment is unique!