Happy New Year! / Bonne Année!

[Stephen Stephen]

My very first image posted this year is of a female Cuban Green Woodpecker. While not one of my best images I was pleased have the opportunity to create this image, of one of the 24 Cuban Endemics, on December 26 while we vacationed near Varadero last week.

I have our 20 year old son Peter to thank for finding this species for me. On Christmas morning he asked me if I had gotten photos of the "green woodpecker". I hadn't so the next morning, our last full day there, we returned to the spot and waited. About 20 minutes later it appeared and stayed around for only about 5 minutes.

Despite the steep angle, bad lighting and clutter of branches I managed to add this species to my life list and photo collections.

I wanted to share it with my friends here at BPN.

Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500mm handheld at 500mm. 1/200 seconds, F7.10, ISO 640
Flash - Flash fired, Compulsory flash mode

Croped to about 50% of full frame. Cloned out a few hotspots on the branches and burned down the brightness in a couple of other locations.

[Arthur Morris]

Sharp for handheld 500mm lens at 1/200 sec. The bird could go a bit lighter. Good head angle and good self critique.

I am confused by this: My very first image for this year is of a female Cuban Green Woodpecker." On what date did you create the image???

[Stephen Stephen]

Thanks Artie. I created the image on Dec 26. I'm meant to say "my very first image Posted this year". I've amended my original post.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Stephen. That makes more sense. And congrats on the new bird. What were you doing in Cuba?

[Stephen Stephen]

Artie my wife treated the whole family to a "Christmas in Cuba" vacation. It was the first time for most of us and we had a lovely time on the beach although it wasn't the Canadian winter wonderland we know.

I'll be posting images of a few more species soon.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice looking woodpecker, very cute and "young" in appearance. Artie's got it covered...but I'll also add that you could apply some noise reduction to the BG. I'm glad this trip was worthwhile for you and your family and that you got a chance to do some photography too :-)