The edge of the meadow

[Richard Unsworth]

here is another Hoopoe captured today as I looked for more Cuckoo's in my meadow.
The bird froze as I drove up, their method of defence I think, but I was unusually close as they are very skittish.
Image 40 crop, NR and sharpened. Used DPP, CS6

1/3200 FL 260 (100-400) 7D Manual exposure HH

[Karl Egressy]

Great looking bird. I used to see them as a kid all the time and now I miss them. Love the environment.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'm really likeing the flowery habitat here...lots of interesting colours and shapes! Just a bit more sharpening to the subject's face and more room at right needed.

[Richard Unsworth]

Thanks Daniel
heres another crop and face more sharpening

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Richard, the bill full of mud shows eveidence of him having been feeding in the ground, and I too like the surrounding foliage. Yes to some more sharpening on the head.

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi Stuart
crossed over, yeah they like the mud!
loads here, birds and mud but this is a desert!!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Repost looks much better Richard, and you got an extra burgundy flower in lower right corner now...an added bonus!

[Richard Unsworth]

Woot! lol

[Gerald Kelberg]

Nice capture, Richard. Always a delightful bird to observe and photograph.

I think you will find they like loose sandy soil rather than 'mud', so quite keen on your flowery desert!

Gerald

[Ivan Ellison]

Nice capture, the re post looks really nice. The flower meadows are great at this time of year and add something extra to the pics, makes them look real instead of too sterile. Cant wait for May when I will over there for a weeks hol.

[Richard Unsworth]

Thanks Ivan

Not long to wait now!