This photo ignores the fact that there were about 25 Bald Eagles sitting on the ice or in the trees nearby. But I thought it was a more story telling picture than any shot I made yesterday of eagles at the 16th Street Basin in Dubuque, Iowa. As soon a gull pulled a fish out of the water and tried to save it from its hungry relatives or the eagles, a big turmoil broke loose and never ended until finally one of the gulls had enough time to swallow the fish or an eagle just stole it from all of them...
PRACTICE WITH THE GULLS
Every winter when I go out shooting Bald Eagles for the first time in the season I get reminded how important it is to practice proper shooting techniques. There is no lack of Ring-billed Gulls along the Mississippi and when the eagles decide to sit just quiet in the trees I just aim for the gulls in order to use my time the best. If you have a high keeper rate while shooting gulls, getting a sharp image of a Bald Eagle in flight seems to be a piece of cake in comparison. The flight pattern of the eagles is a lot more predictable.
After arrival at lock & dam #14 in LeClaire, Iowa last Sunday I went straight for the place where the gulls were fishing. My keeper rate was very low in the beginning but improved over time and finally there were a few pictures that I even liked…