Out in a city park with my camera, I was aware of a roost of long-eared owls. I have great respect for the wintering birds, giving them their space when I can.
There was another photographer there who (unknown to me at the time) had found a dozing owl in a cedar tree. As I got close to the bird this photographer distracted me, claiming to be from "the ministry" and told me to be careful of the coyotes in the park. I walked right under the owl. I was photographing a male long-eared owl from a distance when I noticed the photographer had brought two buddies to the same area I was intercepted in. They were all pointing their lenses at something in a cedar tree. I was now curious. When they left, I returned to investigate. A female long-eared owl was in the cedar tree I had originally walked right under. I quickly composed some frames and let the owl be.
For over ten years I've been photographing wildlife and nature in a lot of spaces, this was my first time encountering a competitive photographer. My initial thought was that the photographer was protecting the owl from being disturbed by too many people. What they were really doing was concealing the owl from others until their buddies all got their shots. It was an unpleasant reminder of what lengths some photographers will go to get "the shot" even at the detriment to wildlife.