Piping Plover ~ Winter Plumage at Sunset

[Jim Fenton]

This year, a number of Piping Plovers were on hand much later than usual, giving me the opportunity to photograph them in something other than the typical more boisterous breeding plumage that I'm used to.

This image was taken on dark sand at sunset in October on Plum Island in Massachusetts.

Nikon D2Xs, 500 AFSII lens, TC14EII, ISO 400 @ f7.1

[Rick A. Brown]

I love the light, bird, overall composition. I only wish that big rock to the left wasn't there. I usually am ok with more stuff distracting than many of the members here.

[Jim Poor]

I like the bird with the drip on the beak, but the size of the rock on the left bothers me.

[Jim Fenton]

Personally, I like the rock :)

The birds were feeding on scuds in the small pools around the base of these rocks.

My goal is to capture my subjects in their actual environment and not to strive for sterile subject only images if they aren't really that way in their environment.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This tiny plover really has a hard time competing with this rock. :) I like the details and droplet on the bill. It could go a bit brighter for my taste.

[Marko Matesic]

I vote for rock too :)...
Rock gives scale .....bird looks smaller and more fragile ...at least I see it this way :)
Dof,light and sharpness looks fine to me!