Falcon ready for Take-off

Very nice capture, Jason. Composition is good. I suggest to work a little on the background: try to darken the bright area, and clone out the two OOF dark linesto the left and right of the bird's tail; also remove the dark spot on the center top of the frame.

Thanks for commenting on my heron; I had been thinking about that rock and decided to keep it to add depth; may have to rethink that. Regards, Dieter

Thanks again Deiter - I actually did some work with this and ended up not liking it that much, so just posted the original to share and see if others noticed what I did. (We are always our own worst critics.) You noticed it too though, so I guess I wasn't too critical! :)

Perfect use of depth of field.

Perfection.

Thanks for allowing the world to view.

Peter Harvey.

P.S. This photograph does deserve a title.

I think it's a falcon, but if someone could say with authority, thanks

in advance! Comments and critiques are welcome! :)

nice job

Excellent capture!!

Not completely sure but could be a MERLIN also call a pigeon hawk it looks like its a young bird. Real nice photo .RGDS

Fantastic shot, exquisite bird. I find the image of the bird is so sharp that the background is not distracting to me.

Thanks for looking and commenting all - and it does have a title now! :)

Lovely image... It is definately a hawk of some sort. I agree that it could be a young merlin but I'm not 100% positive.

Fantastic capture Jason. Very sharp.

Excellent shot. Tack sharp and great depth. I'm no expert, but this is indeed some sort of Falcon (the black eyes give it away). But what type is hard to say 'cause it looks like a juvenile...based on the markings it could be a merlin as Don suggested.

The strong reddish tones, weak malar, and two-toned upperwings suggest Eurasian Kestral, Falco tinnunculus, probably an adult female. I have no first hand experience with that species, however. Perhaps a European birder could confirm.

Anomalies aside, North American Merlins do not show these reddish tones.

Well done. Excellent timing with good detail.

I agree with Margaret. The bird is so sharp and wings so interesting that this is a keeper.

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback on this. I guess we are always our own worst critics though - the oof areas are still bothering me. LOL

such an unusual subject...who gets to see this ..wow...lucky you and lucky us to be able to see it....beautiful beautiful bird !!!

 

~trish~