I like your image but it is a bit too dark, and if your ethics allow, I think it looks better without the single tall grass stem.
I lightened it using a Levels adjustment with the middle slider. To get rid of the grass stem and to smooth out one or two spots in the bg, I used a combination of the Patch Tool and some cloning. Lastly, I used a quick mask on just the bird and did a slight middle tone levels adjustment and a slight curves adjustment.
Look forward to more of your images, and I hope this helps.
Welcome Alan, Agree with suggestions and might add small birds in frame look best in one of the corners Would suggest moving this one down and right I like the mood and head turn very much !!!
Linda, I like what you have done by getting rid of the stem. I could do with a tutorial on how to do that? I have Photoshop CS but not familiar with the patch tool.
Many thanks
Alan
Nice image! I cloned out the branch, cloned the bright spots behind the Chat. I Selected the BG only and Saturated a bit. I used an Action called Paint with Light to lighten the bird itself. The great part about Photoshop is the same thing can be accomplished many different ways.
No problem with the editing Jody it has opened up an area within my photography that I now need to work on and that is Photoshop!
I will check out the tutorials on Digital Workflow Fabs,