Combat...

[Joseph Przybyla]

If I am correct this is two Willets. They were having a vicious battle. Troubling to see, but I guess that is nature. The image is kind of monochrome but it is what it is. Image captured at the north beach at Ft. Desoto, Pinellas County, Florida.

P.S. To those familiar with Ft. Desoto... you would not recognize the north end now. All of the large Australian Pines have been cut down because of being and invasive species. The area looks like a wasteland for the time being.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm (600mm FFE)
1/2000 F/5.6 Matrix Metering - 2/3 EV ISO 250 AWB, camera supported by a monopod
Post processed in Lightroom 6 and Photoshop Elements 10
Cropped for composition and presentation

[adrian dancy]

I love the interaction which is, being realistic, is as good as it gets. The side lighting gives form to the drama. The rippled sand creating under-lighting is just fantastic. The natural monotone is good too.
I'd do a little NR work on the background and upper bird's primary wing feathers. I dearly hope that this image translates into a nice print. Nice work.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the action, sand texture, wincing bird and composition. Well done Joe! Thanks for the info on Fort Desoto.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Joe, well timed to have captured the 'clamping' moment, and I do like the mid air pose of the attacking Willet. Interesting shapes to the sand of the beach and I would run some NR on the BG.

[Bill Dix]

Good action captured, Joe. I love the raised feet of the far bird, and the rippled sand, as noted by others, is wonderful. I rather like the monochrome feeling. Yes to some NR.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great action Joe, you've done a good job capturing this.
TFS!

[gail bisson]

Great action shot Joe.
I was at FDS in May and they had cut down a couple of the pines at that time but I didn't think they were taking them all down. Must look pretty bare right now.
Gail