Horned Lark

[David Salem]

Took this last spring at an estuary that I shoot Terns at. This Lark was hunting on the other side of a chain link fence so we had to shoot through it. Dosn't always work well but worked ok for this shot.
Here he has just captured a tasty caterpillar. I like the color of the beach verbena in the BG.

1DMkIV---700mm---f7.1---ss1/2500---ISO800---HH@5:45pm---50%crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

[Ian Wilson]

I like the elements in this picture and very surprised to learn it was captured through a wire fence! I would prefer a little more space around the bird if you have it.
Regards, Ian

[Dave Spates]

Love the way the actions stopped with the caterpillar in mouth. Well done.

[Binu John]

Great action shot, David! I like the action and the OOF flowers in the background!

[Bill Dix]

Love the caterpillar and the bg colors. Wish for a head turn, and in a perfect world, for his "horn" to show. Still a nice shot of the species with great action.

[Richard Flack]

Very cool action shot David! Really like the BG and the colourful caterpillar. If I were to nit pick, I would give more space around the bird (if possible) and would have loved it if his head was turned more towards the camera. I also noticed some sort of halo above the back towards the tail? (May be my screen). TFS

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Bill, I also wish for a bit more of a head turn. Thanks

[David Salem]

Thanks Richard,
I cropped this pretty tight to concentrate on the caterpillar and action. I wish for a head turn too but have to wait until next time. I dont see a halo though. Thanks for your input.

[Daniel Cadieux]

That's a pretty scraggly Horned Lark! Nice setting though, and neat lunch. Light angle so-so - a better head angle would have better lit the face, but you know that already. Was the ground slanted?

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, you have done well shooting through the fence without any visible evidence of it. Great low angle, and the feather detail shows up very well. Thats one juicy caterpillar.

[David Salem]

Thanks for the comments everyone
Ya, Daniel he is a pretty scraggly one.. Guess they all cant be studs.:)Yes the ground was sloping ,he was actually on part of a slope and the flowers were on a angle and then I was trying to shoot through the chain link fence which left me moving the camera around to get a clear shot.I guess I could have tried to level it but the bird looked funky. Thanks for your comment.