We need to talk ...

Canon 7D
Canon 500/4 + 1.4x
1/5000 sec f/6.3 ISO 800

Viveza 2
CS6 for crop for comp and sharpening
Noiseware pro on BG

Attachment 129635

Nice bird and details on both black and whites. Nice habitat feel to this one. I would suggest you to shoot from a lower angle, may be would have yield a cleaner BG.

This is nice Ian.
I like the incoming walking pose.
Your techs are a bit quirky- I would have opted for f 8 and lower SS .
The BG is a bit messy and a lower POV would have given you a cleaner BG.
I would like a bit more room on top if you have it and would cone out the specular highlights in the BG,
Gail

Thanks, folks. As much as I would have loved to shoot from a lower angle, they actively discourage you from walking down the banks at Forsythe NWR. That given, I agree about the techs, Gail. Operator error - forgot to turn down my ISO after shooting in the shade.

Ian,
the image is nice,
in the given situation i may be tempted to clone out the bight spots on water, will highlight the subject more IMO
raised foot looks nice