Nikon D850
ISO 5600
600mm
f/7.1
1/1000 sec.
Conowingo hydroelectric dam, Susquehanna River, northern Maryland. The water below the dam remains ice free for the duration of the winter and the turbines frequently stun fish passing through the dam. As a result, raptors, bald eagles in particular, from throughout the region gather in the late fall to feed before moving on to their nesting grounds later in the winter. It isn't unusual to see over 100 eagles in a single day and a commensurate number of photographers standing along the riverside walk. The power company that operates the dam, Exelon Generation, has embraced the whole thing, even hosting an Eagle Day fair every November with food and craft vendor stalls.
With such a density of birds, aerial combat is common. Here, you see a mature bird attempting to steal a fish caught by a juvenile bald eagle (they don't gain their iconic coloration until around three years old). Ultimately, the fish dropped and both, for the moment, went hungry.
For the processing: cropped in a good bit, tonal and contrast adjustment, spot removal, little dodging and burning, and sharpening and denoising.