Eagle-Heron Face Off

Gallery: AvianPosted July 28, 2011930 views20 comments

I've photographed quite a few encounters between Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons out at Hood Canal this summer but this one went a little bit differently than any I had photographed previously. This eagle flew in to scare the heron and grab a fish that the heron dropped. Normally the heron will fly away from the eagle but on this occasion it raised straight up and flew at the eagle. The eagle landed and ducked while the heron went right over the top of him. This image was in the middle of that sequence. It's cropped to about 60% of FF.

7D 500F4 1/1600 F9. manual exposure, handheld

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 28, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Very cool. Though it's very busy, I really like the head-on view of the eagle's approach.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 28, 2011 at 2:20 PM

Wonderful action - this photo shows off the size of both birds quite well and this is really sharp for hand holding such a big lens.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on July 28, 2011 at 3:35 PM

Great actoion shot. The detail in the heron and eagle is very good for HH. I really like this image.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 28, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Whoa

This is Awesome Nate!!!

Your best take on the inter-action between the eagles and herons (so far). The eagles intensity and the heron's flared head tuffs tell a great story.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 28, 2011 at 7:45 PM

Great action Nate. looks like very sharp rock??

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 28, 2011 at 10:40 PM

Cool!

What a terrific view of the attacking eagle. I rather like the heron having his back to the camera, with the eagle dominating the viewer's eye, as it furthers the impression of "who's the boss" in this interaction.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 28, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone!

Rob, what looks like sharp rock in the foreground is oyster beds

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 28, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Wonderful action shot, love the wing position on both birds. That heron really has guts!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hahn on July 28, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Great picture. It must have been cool being there to watch it. Who ended up with the fish?

Registered on August 16, 2007, 14 Posts, 151 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 28, 2011 at 11:41 PM

Thanks Ray and Richard!

The eagle ended up with the fish, generally the only way the heron keeps the fish is if they manage to get it down their throat before the eagle arrives.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 29, 2011 at 12:50 AM

Excellent action encounter you captured. Well done getting it all so sharp, and hand held at that. Photos showing interactions like this are quite uncommon and when done this well are real gems!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on July 29, 2011 at 8:27 AM

Excellent action and nice timing. Very good shot.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 29, 2011 at 9:51 AM

I really like this one, Nate--great look by the eagle, and great head-to-head interaction.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 29, 2011 at 10:18 AM

Nice action shot and story to go with it! The colors look a bit flat to me on this. I love the look the eagle is giving the heron. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on July 29, 2011 at 2:18 PM

Another enviable shot, Nate. Pity the heron's back to the viewer, but still terrific action.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on July 29, 2011 at 9:53 PM

Intense action captured very well with both subjects in sharp focus.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Holguin on July 30, 2011 at 12:57 AM

WOW!!!!

Great timing and action. Well done.

Registered on January 25, 2011, 44 Posts, 294 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on July 31, 2011 at 5:33 PM

great action! Must have been fun to watch this!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on August 5, 2011 at 12:32 AM

Stunning capture Nate! The Great Blue Heron - which is no small bird itself - really helps to emphasise the gigantic proportions of the Bald Eagle; not something readily appreciated in images where one sees them on their own.

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 3, 2011 at 11:40 PM

Great candid scene...would've been nice to have a from the side or other angle to get more detail, but you caught some great action, nonetheless.

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments