New 2X TC

Setup. This new 2X TC and 300 f2.8 and D800 looks like they are going to work well together. Tripod, 1/125, f7.1, ISO 400. Cropped in ACR, USM in CS6.

Geez Jack, with the new TC, you are going to set the standard for set up backyard photos!
Excellent close up of this great looking Woodpecker.
The perch is terrific.

Beautiful setup works very well, Jack. The perch is well chosen. The bird looks good, nice pose and sharpness. You might want to take off a bit of the right and add the same to the left.

Congrats on the new gear. It served you well here. That's a combination I would like to get some day. Wonderful perch and nice look-back pose from Ms. Redbelly. I'm not sure what the bg is, but it does have a little bit of a setup look about it.

Superb bird and amazing details, lovely pose captured here
I may not change anything in this image at all

Superb detail and a lovely looking perch. Agree with taking off the LHS and adding a bit on the RHS. Your new gear is working nicely.

Hi Jack, I do like the light in this, and you have exposed the woodpecker perfectly. The pose shows off the detail and colours nicely, and your perch has lots of character with the show of moss. I would maybe remove the plant from your setup, as in this, its hiding part of the tail.

Jack:

The techs look good, good looking bird, very interesting perch. Agree about the plant covering the tail. Part of me wants the perch flipped 180 so the heavier part is down, our brains rather expect that from trees. I do agree that the bg is too smooth. Not too often I say to add some blotches, but a little irregularity might actually work better here!

Cheers

Randy

Jack,

Looks like you've got yourself a winner with the 2x! I do agree with the covered tail comment.

The background looks good to me. I like that it's a gradual change to the green from what looks to be a darker brown up top.

Miguel

Wonderful shot.
I really like the pose with the slightly opened beak.
Terrific perch, nice details, and very nice background.
Well done.

Does look sharp but.... Bird is too angled away and with the over the shoulder look the head needed to be turned more toward us. The hidden tail is a bummer. And with the soft light from our right the head is in shadow. It would be easy to brighten that up/give it some snap in a variety of ways.

Very nice, it looks very sharp.
I so wish the leaves were not on the bottom of the frame.

I like the light, mossy perch, BG and exposure. I would like to see the full tail and cropped per Karl's suggestion. Looks like you are having fun with the set-ups and look forward to seeing more Jack.

Great pose, perch detail and killer BG. Like all of it except wish the tail were exposed. Great job

Very nice! Great pose for the bird and lots of detail. Cropping looks good to me, but I would remove the leaves though.

Congrats on the new toy. That is a killer background and perch with a touch of that mossy green stuff.

IMHO, I would be happy with this image.

I thank you all for the comments and advice.

Excellent image in beautiful lights.
Love the pose,colors,details,nice perch and composition.

Regards,
Satish.