American Avocet- Breeding Plumage

Captured this about a week ago at my local wildlife refuge. I found a group of about 20 Avocets and Stilts in a nice secluded cove. They were in full breeding plumage and they were copulating, fighting and flying from spot to spot.
The light was nice as I sat for 3-4 hours in the evening. I got quite a few keepers of all sorts and I like the flight angle on this one.
My first post with the new 1200/400 format. Now there is even more to critique.

1DMKIV---700mm---f5.6---1/3200---ISO640---HH---5:30pm---25%crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. Appreciated

David

nice flight pose,good light,and some nice detail.

Excellent David, love the tight frame and soft light, nice work.

Lovely inflight David.

How I would love to get an in flight image of one of these beauties, nice light quality and all sits in the frame well compositionally, nicely done David...perhaps a another round of sharpening on the head ?

I like the flight angle, light, sharpness and composition. Nice image David.

Thanks everyone for the comments. Here is a little more sharpening Phil. I think it looks better for the bigger format. Trying to keep from getting halos. Thanks

Beautiful bird, some might wish for a better wing position, but I personally like it-- it definitely helps that the under wing is so well illuminated. The extra sharpening in the re-post looks good. You always have the most beautiful water BG in your shots. This must be a special refuge.

Meant to end with great job!

Excellent flight shot, David. It is great to have access to these beautiful shorebirds.

Love it. They're not slow in flight and it's a challenge. Nice feather detail.

Excellent flight pose and light, good exposure control.

Great job David. Excellent flight pose, light & BG.

Hi David, a great subject to capture in flight, and in lovely soft light. Nicely separated from the water BG, and your repost has turned out much better.

Thanks everyone for the comments, appreciated