Aerial Battle!

[Marina Scarr]

Many aerial skirmishes occur above black skimmer colonies each nesting season, especially when the winds are strong and can lift them off the ground as though they were light as a feather. I have yet to decipher whether these are territorial struggles, mating rituals, playful clashes or a combination...although my gut tells me territorial struggles. However, they are common and they can be violent. In the next frame, the right skimmer actually grabbed its rival's wing.

Canon 1D4, Canon 400L F4
F5.6, 1/2000sec, ISO 800, manual mode
HH

Critiques and comments always welcomed and much appreciated.

[David Salem]

Very cool Marina. I have been trying to get a good frame of this behavior for years but the colony that I know of is a few hundred yards off in the distance and I cant get any closer.
The frame looks excellent with great action, both beaks open, nice HAs and perfect techs. Nice work getting a tricky frame like this!!

[MohsenVahedipour]

Great interaction, light & IQ. Very well done.

[HadiAnsari]

Hi Marina.This is superb.Very well done.

[William Dickson]

Great action shot Marina, very well done :S3:

[keith mitchell]

Very well caught Marina, great action and I particularly like the almost pastel setting.

Keith.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Nice capture Marina, I have never seen skimmers behave like this. Thank you for sharing.

[Robert Kimbrell]

Excellent action. I like the open beaks as they are barking at each other. Nicely exposed. Well done.

[Karl Egressy]

Lovely interaction shot, Marina. Love the open beaks.

[Dumay de Boulle]

OOOH!!! Lovely light and you have captured excellent action.

[MiroslavMaric]

Great action shot! Love the composition and interaction. Cheers!

[Doug Brown]

Great behavior shot with excellent eye contact from both birds. I'd love to see the next frame in the sequence; sounds like a contest winner!

[Jonathan Ashton]

It's a fine shot, I too would go for No 1.