Swooping In!

Last week I saw a gull snatch up a fish and go flying off with it, but the fish was too large for the gull to handle so he dropped it at the edge of the marsh. This attracted the attention of a bald eagle who immediately came swooping in seemingly out of nowhere. But the eagle arrived too late…a quick acting egret had already grabbed and swallowed the fish before the eagle could snag it. As you might expect, as soon as I saw the eagle come in, I focused my attention and my camera toward it rather then the egret. I got this shot right as the eagle arrived and you can see the disappointed gull in the background of the photo!

39 thoughts on “Swooping In!”

monisertel on February 23, 2013 at 1:43 pm said:

Hi nPPhil,
great captured!
Wish you a nice sunday,
moni

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:46 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much moni! Glad you liked this eagle!
  
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david on February 23, 2013 at 1:58 pm said:

Nice composition and a fun story to go with it!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:46 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch! Appreciate you looking!
  
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HansHB on February 23, 2013 at 2:30 pm said:

Awesome flight-shot!
Well done!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:47 pm said:
  
  Thank you Hans I’m happy you like this shot!
  
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meyer23 on February 23, 2013 at 2:34 pm said:

Great pic.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks I appreciate it!
  
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Amy on February 23, 2013 at 2:54 pm said:

One fish… 🙂 Well, the eagle is just too handsome, gulll has to “step” aside this time. Awesome shot, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:49 pm said:
  
  That is our male eagle and he is a handsome looking chap!
  Gull had no choice but he was probably never going to get to keep the fish anyway it was too big for him.
  Thanks for looking!
  
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roughseasinthemed on February 23, 2013 at 3:23 pm said:

Beautiful wingspan. Poor sad gull. A bit like the egret and the BH tale.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:50 pm said:
  
  Yeah he is a nice looking and good size bird! The thing swooped right in on me too, glad I was not the intended target. Gull is out of luck this time.
  
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pixelspielerei on February 23, 2013 at 3:32 pm said:

A great picture, well done!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:50 pm said:
  
  Thanks for the comment I appreciate it!
  
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zannyro on February 23, 2013 at 3:59 pm said:

Awesome!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:50 pm said:
  
  So glad you like it!
  
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Tricia A. Mitchell on February 23, 2013 at 4:07 pm said:

What a shot, Phil! Reminds me of a bird of prey show that we went to on the grounds of a German castle last spring. The beautiful birds soared within inches of our heads at times, and then flew so far off in the distance that we could barely see them with a naked eye.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:52 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Tricia, I’m happy you enjoyed this eagle photo!
  He swooped right in on me too. Lucky it didn’t decide that maybe I needed a little personal attention! 😯 🙂
  They can cover a lot of space very quickly.
  
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Gunta on February 23, 2013 at 4:29 pm said:

Trying to decide if that’s a look of determination or frustration on the eagle. Fantastic shooting, as ever. Nice to see the egret win for a change. Quite a lucky sequence for the egret.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 23, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:
  
  I think probably frustrated, but of course they almost always have that look of determination regardless of what they are doing.
  There were actually two egrets competing for the fish but I bet they never spotted the eagle otherwise they would have scattered.
  
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Rick Alonzo Photography on February 23, 2013 at 6:57 pm said:

Beautiful shot Phil! Unique moment captured wonderfully!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:07 am said:
  
  Thanks Rick I appreciate it!
  
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Molly Argo on February 23, 2013 at 7:50 pm said:

What an amazing shot! You always seem to be in the right place. But, of course, it’s your skill that really makes your shots so amazing!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:07 am said:
  
  Thanks for looking Molly and I greatly appreciate your kind comments!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on February 23, 2013 at 8:07 pm said:

Wow ! What an exciting moment you captured. Poor little gull went hungry.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:08 am said:
  
  Hey thanks, glad you liked it Emily! Yes no big fish for the gull on this day.
  
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adinparadise on February 23, 2013 at 9:54 pm said:

Fabulous pic, Phil. Love the focused look in his beady eye. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  Thanks Sylvia, I’m just glad he was not coming at me with that look. 😯 🙂
  
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lylekrahn on February 23, 2013 at 11:45 pm said:

Wildlife photographers typically don’t need second shooters but you may be the exception.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  My wife is usually with me, she is pretty good too. 🙂
  
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janmasyn on February 24, 2013 at 5:19 am said:

Awesome BIF-shot Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Jan, glad you enjoyed the eagle pic.
  
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Andrew on February 24, 2013 at 10:23 pm said:

Majestic birds and a fine shot, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 25, 2013 at 9:21 pm said:
  
  I appreciate the kind words Andrew!
  
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Chillbrook on February 25, 2013 at 2:52 pm said:

Superb capture Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 25, 2013 at 9:21 pm said:
  
  So glad you like it! Thanks Adrian!
  
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theforagingphotographer on February 25, 2013 at 7:11 pm said:

Gorgeous light and detail on the big fella there Phil, and I can see the gull thinking “aw bugger!” 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on February 25, 2013 at 9:22 pm said:
  
  Yes that poor gull had no chance with so many after it’s catch. Thanks a bunch Lucy!
  
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Fergiemoto on March 2, 2013 at 4:25 pm said:

Wow, this is stunning!

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