Fishing Rights Fracas!

Fishing Rights Fracas!

In late August, photographer Tommy Hakiel anchored his boat in Champlin Creek in Islip, just off the eastern shore of the Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge. He was on the lookout for birds to photograph, but suddenly found himself in the midst of a battle for fishing rights. The fracas was between two female Belted Kingfishers. The collection below is his photo essay from the nearly 45-minute encounter …