Fish Fight!

Another highlight of the weekend, I went to Starved Rock to shoot some more eagles. Well, I have plenty of eagle shots to post about in the coming days, but a highlight was when I focused on this seagull. It was in the lock part of the lock and dam. A barge had just passed through the lock, leaving large chunks of ice in it's wake. The seagull was focused on something...



I didn't know what he was looking at until...








...he caught a fish. Wow, I thought it was a great catch, but isn't it just a tad too big? As I think this thought all mayhem breaks loose.









A little discussion about property ensues...








Then another fair weather friend shows up...








He gives the new guy the "what's what"...










and the "who's who"...










and the "get the 'BLEEP' outta here!"










and then things get ugly, as the intruder turns around after getting cussed at and lets him have the "what's what"!










...and the "who's who"...










and "GETOUTTAHERE!"













Well, the next part of the story is blurry but I will try to recreate it:

The seagull left without the fish.

I wondered why?

I focused on some other seagulls.

Then something caught my eye.

Unbelievable!

Why didn't I see him coming?

Why didn't I look up for just a second earlier?

An eagle came in the lock and swooped (missed) for the fish on the ice.

It was just a few yards away.

I didn't see him until he was in front of me.



I reacted as quickly as I could.



The background is the lock wall.



He is flying below me.



Another notch for the "I can't believe I missed it" shots tally.



Oh well, I like to believe that my luck was spent on finding the snowy. (Which didn't happen until a few hours later.)