Short-billed Dowitcher at Sunrise

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D4
500mm +1.4x
Gitzo/Wimberley spread low

ISO 1000
1/2500 sec
f/5.6

My mind is turning toward shorebird migration. I just discovered this frame I took on a Fort Myers beach at sunrise back in early May. I am in awe when I think of how far birds like dowitchers migrate. Twice a year it travels more than 9,000 miles between the Arctic and the southern tip of South America.
The sun had just come up when I spotted this Red Knot. I spread my Gitzo low and snapped a few before it took off. I liked the curling wave, and the angle of the bird, and the warm, low light.
Some crop, NR, sharpening. I wondered if I should try to clean up the vegetation in background and on the side, but decided to leave it.
Thank you in advance for any comments and critiques, I always learn from each post.

[dankearl]

The wave is awesome. Nice golden light.

[Melissa Groo]

Oh dear. It's actually a Short-Billed Dowitcher. Can a moderator please correct the title and the i.d. within? And thanks to my kind friend/fellow BPNer who corrected me.

[arash_hazeghi]

it is a dowitcher and nice pose light and details. overall it's a bit dark

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks Arash. I thought it might be a bit too dark, after posting. Here's a repost.

[Satish Ranadive]

Marvelous image of Dowitcher in beautiful lights.Superb composition.
Love the pose of bird with nice colors and details.I like the curling wave also.

Regards,
Satish.

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great pose and light, Melissa.

[gary ellwein]

One of my favorite birds. Prefer the repost. Feather detail, sweet light and the wave all work.

[Sachin Saraf]

Melissa, You got some beautiful light here..Re post looks better

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot. I really like the pose and the small wave. Great details and excellent shooting angle. Repost is much better.
Well done.

[Ofer Levy]

Lovely image Melissa. Here is another version with some off the top and left, some boost in colours and contrast and colour balance adjustment.

[Melissa Groo]

Splendid job, Ofer, thanks so very much. Interested to know what you did exactly on the color balance side of things.
Thank you to all for the other comments too.

[Marina Scarr]

Ofer's repost really brings this image to life. The light was lovely, and I like the fact that you included the environment.