birds -2 Eastern Wood Peewee

Comments??

I'm not sure if this is slightly out of focus or a tight crop from a larger frame. Unfortunately, it comes off as "soft" enough to be a little distracting.

From about 500 feet. Then cropped.

For sure not your best, technically.  Really stretching @ 500 ft & crop sensor even with the 400mm reach of your lens.  That said, if this is a rare capture, certainly worth the try.  I'm just a novice at this category of photography with only a few feeble offerings of my own so, in the spirit of advising ways to improve, I can only say 'get closer'.  :-)  As if you wouldn't if you could.  I do like the crop with the subject in the right third of the frame, looking left, and the soft, non distracting background.  I also like your Osprey returning-with-fish post.  All I got on my first attempt was the bird returning with a stick, likely to patch up a deteriorating nest.  Whatever, I considered it a reward for my patience anyway.  The gear heads among us wishing to duplicate your successes would likely appreciate more technicals like shutter speed & aperture settings, & perhaps your mode of focusing, auto or otherwise.  Best, LM.

Len

Thanks for the comments. One day before this shot I was at this pond where most perching spots were quite a distance away. But there was a nearby tree stump where a woodpecker was working diligently. But I didn't have my tripod so I was shooting hand-held. I returned the next day with my tripod hoping for the woodpecker shot - no luck. So, I settled for these more distance birds. I usually shoot with shutter speed priority and let the auto exposure choose the aperture. The bird is so small and the distance so great that the AF was having a difficult time. But I was happy to get this shot of a bird that I was unfamiliar with.

Marvin

Thanks for the follow-up.  My experience has been that the story is often more interesting than the photo.  The serendipity factor has played a big part in what I've considered my successes.  Best, LM.