When You Lose a Fight with the Dominant Male...

You beat it out of town!!!!

This past long weekend we camped at Murphy's Point Provincial Park. I saw loons each day. This morning in very dark overcaste light I watched two male loons fight for supremacy over a female. Unfortunately they were over 400 metres away down Hogg's Bay. Suddenly the loser begain speeding down the lake towards me by beating its wings on the surface of the water. It wasn't trying a running take-off but literally beating its way down the lake.

I had virtually no time to prepare and was perched on a small knoll as this bird blew by me at record speed as I took this shot from my tripod mounted camera. It disappeared out of sight past the point of land that I was on. It must have travelled over 500 metres in this manner.
I needed to adjust the horizon and run some denoise but I'm still pleased with this full-frame shot even with these flaws.

1. The approach

IMAGE LINK: http://s153.photobucke​t.com …n_05_zps1f1b488​9.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s153.photobucke​t.com …n_11_zps5cff774​6.jpg.html

Hmm maybe it had too big a breakfast

Outstanding captures and awesome story behibd them.

That second is fabulous!

Beautiful shots, excellent clarity and detail for as fast as it is going, Well shot!

Fun shots!

Beautiful shot. I understand that male Loons fights with each other can lead to death...death by an impaled beak into the other's chest.

Neat observation and story, and even better captures of the fleeing loon Stephen.
The 2nd image at almost a perfect right angle is a real winner.

Fantastic images...feet don't fail me now!

WOW, awesome shots..especially #2 !!!

Thank you everyone for the very kind comments. It was an exciting opportunity.

Lovely shots Stephen, he is certainly shifting.

Excellent action shots Stephen.

Thank you Lester and Don.

Very cool images showing something a little different from these beautiful birds. I especially like the second image here Stephen....great opportunity and well executed.