Willet S & M

[Marina Scarr]

This is part 2 of my previous Willet mating photo. After the male mounts the female, he proceeds to lean down and clamp his beak around her neck while pushing her head into the water. No wonder the two of them spend the next few seconds embroiled in a fierce battle. How any fluids could have been transferred during such a violent event is beyond me. This behavior was truly an education to watch.

Canon 1D3, Canon 500L & 1.4 TC
F7.1, 1/200sec, ISO 500, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Jobu head, waist deep in water

C & C always welcomed and much appreciated.

Marina Scarr
www.marinascarrphotography.com (http://www.marinascarrphotography.com)

[Frank Schauf]

Really great pose, Marina.

[Chris Martinez]

Awesome behaviour!!

[Jonathan Ashton]

Amazing, don't know how he manages - must be an age thing! Great piece of action and beautiful colours a very clean image.

[Karl Egressy]

Great light, low angle and excellent interaction captured, Marina.

[Melissa Groo]

Wow, fantastic image, Marina. Great choice of the vertical comp, great DoF, and just love that low angle. A great view of behavior few of us will have the opportunity to witness.

[dankearl]

That is really cool, Very nice timing and low angle.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Marina, you are very fortunate to have captured the 'moment' and I think you have timed this perfectly, with the female's head still above the water. Good choice of comp, good DOF all round, and the sharpness looks good too. I do like the BG colours. An opportunity well used.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Marina! I like the interaction, behaviour, low angle, calm water and BG.

[Peter Scholer]

Everything has come together so well. A wonderful capture well done.

[Morkel Erasmus]

very interesting behaviour captured, Marina!!
love the exposure, low angle and BG colour too

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I am glad I'm not a bird er.... I think LOL heee Have you ever seen ducks? it's amazing they don't drown the female. I also have seen anhinga do the same beak clutching. Anyway another cool shot in the series of a great moment captured.

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet action shot Marina!

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful image. Love the interaction captured, excellent comp, and great low angle.
Very well done.