Fan-tailed Cuckoo

[PhilCook]

An occasional migrant to my part of Oz and sometimes I heard one or two calling from the forest, but it took 3 years to finally get an image. This was a single bird I heard calling and could see it high in the trees, and for a few days I hoped it would come closer, eventually early one morning it ventured closer and perched atop a post calling , fired off a few shots before he flew off to a low tree.......woohoo !

Personally I prefer the post perch shots, but this is one from the small tree nearby.

Canon 7D + 500 f4......f6.3, 1/160, ISO 200, no flash on purpose.........tripod mounted shot, cropped to vertical, cloned out some background oof curly sticks for a smooth backdrop, selective sharpen and noise reduction to backdrop

[Randy Stout]

Phil:

Very nice singing pose, like the yellow eye ring and red mouth. Nice display of tail. Perch is a nice scale for him. Comp works for me.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

Congrats on getting this guy - 3 years is a long wait. Lovely colors on the bird (yes to the yellow eye and red mouth), and the bg. Good comp, great singing pose.

[dankearl]

The eye, mouth and tail are really attractive.
Another great looking bird, do you ever run out?

[Arthur Morris]

Confused by the perch stories but love the posted image. Love the calling pose, the open bill, the sharpness, and the BKGR. Flash might have helped by lightening the shadows.

[Greg Oakley]

Lovely calling pose image, Phil - I know what you mean - these guys are really hard to get close to (they love calling away in a dark secluded spot!)... Well done,
Cheers, Greg

[Satish Ranadive]

Phil:
Magnificent image.
Love the calling pose,beautiful colors,sharpness,BG and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[PhilCook]

Thanks for looking everyone, one a a few varieties of Cuckoos here in Australia I have photographed

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Phil, it seems you got lucky with this guy, and on a lovely thin perch, even though you say the post perch is better. I like the calling pose with the open beak, and you have brought out the finer plumage nicely. Perfect placement in the frame. You used your opportunity very well.

[Tim King]

Stunning image in all respects.