I just returned from a trip to the Louisiana swamps to visit the rookeries there. In this image, the adult has regurgitated and chewed up a crawfish as the young fight to see who will swallow the morsel.
Any
Canon 90D, Sigma 150-600 C, monopod
ISO 640, f9, 1/1000s
What a great shot, Allen! The sibling rivalry looks perilous to eyeballs! They seem evenly matched though, so barring disease, accident or a hungry raptor, they both might live to fledge. Super details and timing. The whites look ok, too, which is so hard with these. Looks like you had some soft, non-contrasty light which helps.
How do you like shooting with a monopod? I just started doing so and am still getting the hang of it. Only have a simple tilt-head on it, but I’ve never used one before so I can’t say if it will be my final choice. What kind of head are you using on yours if I may ask?
@Kris_Smith Hi Kristen, thanks for the comment!
I use a Mongoose action head for tripod and monopod - works well for me. I’m not sure if they are available anymore. I like the mobility of a monopod in certain situations (on the move in lower light or when waiting on a feeding bird to catch its prey) but prefer a tripod if I am at a fixed location. I used to use a tilt head for my monopod and had good results.
What a family portrait, Allen. Those siblings fighting is really a nice addition. Everyone seems nice and sharp.
I like the monopod too @Kris_Smith when I know I am going to be holding the long lens for a spell and moving around so don’t want the weight or having 3 legs to adjust quite often. I have both a gimbal head (full size one, I don’t remember the brand), as well as a Wimberly MH-100, which is nice and light and works very well, in my opinion. Both work well for me on a monopod.
Thanks for the input, @Shirley_Freeman - I have seen some rave reviews of that Wimberly head and may pick one up since the head I have isn’t an Arca-Swiss, but requires a proprietary mounting plate that is ok, but not ideal.
Excellent image, Allen, though I’ve seen more appetizing meals 
The detail is superb throughout the image.
Wonderful action and sharpness!!! Gorgeous setting with a clear view of the warring chicks and a very interesting meal! Very nice whites! I wonder if it would be possible to remove the branch behind the meal? And the little one in the UR and the brighter one coming in at mid-frame.
I am SOOO jealous of the trees the water birds nest in down south. (And of the crawfish étouffée!)
Excellent environmental/action shot with good detail in the parent and chicks.
HI Allen
This is a nicely photographed interaction on how nature determined who gets fed first. The detail and whites are vary good and I like the overall framing.
Peter
Outstanding color, detail, pose, and behavioral aspects of this image. I might consider cloning out the one green branch sticking at the front of the beak. But this is an environmental shot.
