Not a common bird in Gainesville, FL so it was a treat when this guy flew in while I was photographing Opreys and Bald Eagles at a local lake. I wasn't sure what he was at the time, and I haven't had the opportunity to photograph one since! I remember him getting up on the rock for a brief moment, giving me the pose, and then quickly getting off. Well, at least that's how I remember it! This was taken in April 2012.
Congrats, Miguel. Always fun to get a new species. I like the light (although the white on the flank is pushing the limit), and the pose is terrific. The head seems a bit soft.
I love spotted sandpipers!
You had very nice light for this image. Love the upturned windblown feather.
The perch is a bit messy at the bottom so I would go for a real pano shot with this and crop some of that mud off the bottom.
I find the head a bit soft and would try to sharpen if you can.
Gail
Lucky you to make this find there. Great alert pose on the sandpiper and such a classic perch for a spotted. Agree about head needing to be sharpened a bit more. I might bring the brightness down a little to really show off that sweet light.
Good comments from above, and I agree with the general consensus about the head being a little soft. I appreciate Gail's point about the mud, but because it is darker, it is less forward to my eye, so not particularly bothersome. I might remove a few of the bright highlights just to further deemphasize it. I tried a scroll crop of the mud off the bottom, and didn't like the perch as much. Just personal taste really.
Spotted Sandpiper
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