Roger G

I think the dove is lost. Leaves on the right, and a lot of the palm on the left, distract from bird.

Interesting image. You have to ask yourself, why's she smiling, while he looks uncertain?

Hi Frederick, I think PatrickD has made excellent points. You had to deal with typical English weather, making life tricky. The major issue I have is the foreground which I do not think helps the image - the nearby red and white blocks and further back the bright amber ?light just under the nosewheel are quite distracting. Wait for better weather I'd say, and crop differently. Thanks for posting.

Excellent flight shot and thanks for including the scientific name it is useful for bird enthusiasts who may not be familiar with local names.

Presumably a captive bird. I think you should tell us that, there is a HUGE difference between photographing an extremely rare eagle like this in the wild and snapping a pic in a zoo or raptor center.

Nice balance and framing. Makes you want to know more about the girl. Intriguing and interesting.

Was this shot of a wild bird? If so I congratulate you. If not I think you should let us know. Thanks.

One issue may be that there are so many images [on this site and elsewhere] of birds of prey taken in zoos, rehab centers etc. Often the photographers do not disclose this information. There is a HUGE difference between photographing a bird in captivity and one in the wild. I enjoyed your photos of this immature Coop.

Roger.

Nice that you were able to get out but this looks like a Brant not a Canada goose!

Amazing birds. Look at the size of that bill on the adult! Actually they are Steller's Eagles Haliaeetus pelagicus, a closely related species but much more spectacular - and rare. Would love to know where this was taken as their range is very limited.

Roger.

Great exposure, color and OOF background. I love that you provided details including scientific name. Wish more people did that. Thanks.

Very dramatic photo. Was this of a wild bird?

Great Photo. Was it of a wild bird, or one in captivity?

Great photo of an awesome bird. All your photos are excellent, of course. I hope photography like this can turn people on to becoming proponents of conservation.

Great drama and execution. What's the story behind this image?

Sure is a refreshing change from the usual images of raptors in rehab centers and zoos that so many post on this site.

Thanks, David.

Roger

Thanks in advance. This image is of a wild bird near a feeder in

Florida. Manipulation limited to cropping, minimal color adjustment,

cloning out a few stray feathers, and sharpening.

I think it's a black guillemot, Cepphus grylle. Was the photo taken in the north Atlantic somewhere? Black and white birds are always a problem to expose correctly. I think you've done well with the black, showing some detail of the plumage.The white is a bit burned out, perhaps that's inevitable. Anway, I like it and am enjoying your other photos.

I think it may be a redshank, Tringa totanus. Was the picture taken in the UK? Knowing where and when would help. I like it and think it's one of your best bird photos. I particularly like the pose, the body facing us and the head turned to the side.

Peter I hardly feel qualified to criticise but here are a few thoughts. Firstly it's an interesting bird doing something interesting. Exposure looks right and it appears sharp. Personally I would crop out as much as possible of that white rock, and perhaps darken it a bit in Photoshop.

Actually I prefer the other Inca tern photo in your gallery. I like the background of that one better, and it shows those extraordinary plumes better. On the other hand, this one has the added interest of the fish.

Overall I like the photo a lot, and it makes me wish I was in S America right now.

And I enjoyed the other images in your portfolio.

Roger.

I love it! The blurred background, the water on the feathers, excellent exposure. So much more interesting than the run of feeder birds and captives we often see here. So were you in the water too? Was it a problem getting down to the bird's level?

Hi Jeff,

It's a red-tailed hawk. It's darker than the ones I see here in Florida.

With regard to the comments on exposure, it's the old problem of birds in flight where the sky is much lighter than the shady underside of the bird. To me the exposure on the bird looks about right, if anything slightly under. Yes the sky is somewhat overexposed, the price you pay for getting the bird right. This can be adjusted in Photoshop. But I think it's a very nice photo of an interesting bird.

Roger.

How about Savannah Sparrow?

Hi Guys,

Perched raptors are often hard to identify. But this is definitely not a Cooper's hawk, the simplest clue being that the tail on your bird is way too short. It is a Buteo for sure [Cooper's is an Accipiter] and I would suggest your original impression of red-tailed hawk is correct. Other possibilities such as swainson's or ferruginous hawk seem unlikely. Red-tails vary tremendously in coloration, and are often very confusing. When identifying raptors clues such as tail lenth and wing shape are often more useful than color - but these features are most helpful when the bird is flying. Where and when was the photo taken? Do you have any other shots of it?

Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed looking at it and puzzling over the identification.

Roger.

I love the out-of-focus background, with its the deep rich colour. As well as the eagle, of course. Good job. Roger.