Harrier in Color

Took this last winter at my local wildlife refuge when the Harrier's were in the area. They come to this spot in good numbers and it's lots of fun standing at the bank of a pond with a few friends trying to catch a good one.
I like this one because it has many colors in the BG that shows a bit of the landscape that these raptors like to hunt in. Mostly wet marshy areas.
Many older books call them by their nickname, Marsh Hawk. That's what I knew them as when I was growing up.

1DMKIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/3200---ISO640---HH@ 8:15 am---30% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. Appreciated.

David

Excellent flight shot, David. Good shooting angle. I like the wing position especially the far wing. Nice details and sharpness.

In technicolor would be more apt David. Very nice indeed, love that eye and feather pattern detail, really cant see anything to improve upon...just lovely as is

This is a beautiful photo, David, very attractive as art, I do think the colors are bit saturated and a little too vivid
for a "real life" bird photo.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Appreciate it.

Dan, even though it looks like I bumped up the saturation on this I actually didn't. It is pretty much straight out of the camera. The frame before and after are in a brown BG but this frame hit the green and blue just right.
Thats why I named it " Harrier in color" . I guess I could desaturate it but I liked it as soon as I saw it.
Thank as always for your comments.

David, simply gorgeous! I need to make it over to your area this winter, I have taken shots of harrier, but nothing is worth posting. Love the golden light, sharpness, and the BG makes this image special. I'm always confused when I hear 30% crop. I assume the image is nw 70% of the FF, right? Loi

Yes Loi, 70% of the original is what is left. Thanks for your comment. See ya this winter.

Excellent topside view of this handsome bird. I like that the bird is square to the sensor and not past you. I love the background for the exact reason you mentioned. Sharpness looks very good.

Super shot and great light on the face/eye

Lovely background

TFS

Great light and flight pose.

Great capture really shows the power and beauty of the bird

Hi David, I like the shooting angle together with the Harrier's flight angle, and the light looks exquisite. Lovely warm colours, and a killer BG.

I wish I could stand next to one of my ponds and shoot Harrier's. All I have are ducks and geese. :w3

Very nice light, pose and bird, the warm light is sweet!

very nice warm light pose and details. I might bring down the saturation and sharpening a bit to reduce halos. Freat details. Just wish the near wing was a bit higher (or lower)

sweet image

Stunning flight shot. Fantastic light and colors as well as wing pose.

Markus