Clash of the Eagles

2008's 'Behaviour: Birds' category winner, by Antoni Kasprzak from Poland
Birds are among the most popular subjects for photographers entering the competition. But the challenge is to take a picture with aesthetic appeal that also shows active or interesting behaviour. The winter in Poland had been particularly cold and snowy, making it difficult for the eagles to find prey. So when Antoni found a dead moose hit by a train, he knew it would be the ideal bait. Setting up his hide by the bait, he waited. Five hours later, an adult and an immature white-tailed eagle arrived together, and a struggle broke out. A snowstorm provided the perfect backdrop for the scene. Not surprisingly, the older, more experienced bird won, forcing the immature eagle to wait its turn for more than an hour, along with the queue of magpies and other scavengers. TheTamshee says: click title link for more fascinating photography, including a cat-eyed tree-snake, coiled around a branch, locked in an embrace with a Morelet’s treefrog