Ready to leave

[Rick Moran]

A fledgling Red Bellied Woodpecker thinking about leaving the the nest.
D2X w 70-200/2.8. f4@1/500 sec, iso 320, EC -2/3.
Thanks for looking, Rick

http://slopoki1.smugmug.com/photos/605886427_SyaZe-XL.jpg

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I'm unsure about the green BG, but again I am not. I perhaps would like to see a little more of it? What a cute image. I think the light is nice and soft, the babe is very sharp and it has an overall appeal as well as tells a story. Thanks for sharing.

[John Chardine]

I like this Rick. Great to see the plumage of a fledged young one. Looks perhaps like a male with the red developing on the forehead. There seems to be a bit of a greenish cast over the image, at least on my monitor, which could be easily corrected (Auto Levels in Ps did a nice job when I tried it). It would have been nice if the bird turned it's head towards you a little.

[Art Peslak]

Good detail, sharpness and exposure. I do see a little green cast as well. I am surprised you could get close enough to shoot with the 70-200. These guys usually fly away pretty quick when I get close.

[Phil Ertel]

Hi John, I think this one is the best the series of these woodpeckers. Good comments by John above. I am also envious that you could get this close. Thanks for sharing.

[Erich Stevens]

Well done, Rick. Any chance you're in southeast Florida? There are many active red-bellied nests in the area now. There was one family in a palm tree along my street but the chicks fledged and moved away before I could get any good images.