Common Bird project- Redwing in a tree

[John Chardine]

OK, with the various posts of this species I think we get the message that Red-winged Blackbirds are common in North America!

Couldn't resist posting this male from today, and a little different because he's in a tree rather than on a cattail. This is very early spring here in New Brunswick and the blackbirds do not normally settle into the local marsh until a little later. Instead they hang around the edges of the marsh this this one. Having said this, a very few males were sitting on cattails today, a least a week early. BTW I'm wondering if the rusty feather ends on the back suggest a young male?

OK I will admit that I was shooting up at this bird, which is an aspect I don't like. However, I think it is more or less hidden in this image.

I cropped and removed a few twigs around the bird. Then a sharpen and that was it.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 500/4 x 1.4 tc = 700mm
capture date: Friday, 2 April 2010, 2:47 PM
exposure program: Manual
ISO speed: 800
shutter speed: 1/1250
aperture: f8.0
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
light source: Auto
flash: OFF
handheld!

[Phil Ertel]

Hi John, I like the singing pose. I like the side view giving us a good view of the bird while the slight head turn provides a good head angle. The bird appears well exposed and sharp. I also think the resulting high-key presentation is very effective in displaying the bird. Overall a pleasing image. Thanks for sharing.

[Paul Lagasi]

Lots of these guys around now, lovin this weather here...today is 29C (84F), wild for Apr. 2. John nice image, sharp, head turn..can't comment of color...monitor at work sucks...TFS

[Keith Carver]

Although you're looking up (slightly) at the bird, the bird's eye is looking down at you - so it works well, John. Good EXP for dark tonal range. This looks like a young male.