Shrike

[Michael Lloyd]

I visited the Cameron Prairie Wildlife Refuge (Pintail Loop) earlier this week. Unfortunately no ducks were to be found. I guess it's a little too early for them. This guy was kind enough to pose for me though...

PS- The NWR is located in SW Louisiana and it was affected by Gustav and Ike. Cameron and Creole Louisiana (nearby towns) had just recovered from Katrina and are now having to go through the process of rebuilding again, although the devastation was not as severe as it was with Katrina.

EOS1DsMKIII
600mm f4L IS
No flash (catch light is the setting sun)

1/320 second
fF8
ISO 400

[Daniel Cadieux]

Handsome fellow that offered you a nice pose! Could use a bit more USM...and a significant crop from the top. Thanks for the info on the area - puts a little perspective on what the wildlife has to go through too.

[Michael Lloyd]

Thanks Daniel,

I pushed my camera to the upper end of the crop limit for this image. I couldn't get any closer and 600mm was too short. Thankfully I had an extra pixel or two to play with otherwise I wouldn't even have this.