New Zealand Tui

[Ian Wilson]

One of the iconic birds of New Zealand after which a popular beer is named. A mid-size bird, it has long white filoplumes on the nape and shoulders and two curled up tufts on the throat like a bow-tie. The shot was taken on Stewart Is in January on an overcast day, late in the afternoon, with the bird feeding on the nectar of the New Zealand flax flower. The conditions required a higher ISO than desirable but the diffuse light nicely showed off the feather sheen.
Canon 5DIII + 300 mm f/2.8L II + 2x III extender, Gitzo3532LS + Kirkphoto King Cobra gimbal.
Av priority, f/10, 1/640 sec, ISO 1600.
PP using DPP: crop, brightness (-0.33), DLO deconvolution (50), USM (3,7,4), convert to jpeg. PS Elements: shadow/highlights (10%/10%), USM on bird and flower (50%,1.5px,3), background NR, downsize and output sharpen USM (100%,0.7px,3).
Critical feedback welcome, especially on my workflow and processing parameters. Thanks for looking.

[dankearl]

What a great looking bird and flower....
I wish it was a bit more isolated on the perch and a bit more to the right.
Thanks for showing us this species, I hope to see more.

[Cal Walters]

Wonderful detail, I like the perch I do wish I saw a bit more of the beak's form. It looks like there is some pollen on the forehead which would be a nice accent to its behavior.

[Ian Wilson]

What a great looking bird and flower....
I wish it was a bit more isolated on the perch and a bit more to the right.
Thanks for showing us this species, I hope to see more.

Hi Dan,
Thanks for your feedback. I believe I have room to crop with the subject a bit more to the right. I will give it a try.
Ian

[Ian Wilson]

Wonderful detail, I like the perch I do wish I saw a bit more of the beak's form. It looks like there is some pollen on the forehead which would be a nice accent to its behavior.

Hi Cal,
That certainly is pollen you see on the bird's forehead. I too would like to see some more of the beak but I only got a chance for a few shots and this was the best one.
Thanks for your comments.
Ian

[Satish Ranadive]

Hello Ian,
Thanks for showing such beautiful bird with white filoplumes and nice bow-tie.
Spectacular image, very nice feeding pose, beautiful colors, flowering perch and nice BG.

Regards,
Satish.

[ramesh anantharaman]

Truely a spectacular Bird. love the colour rendition and the behaviour.

[Ian Wilson]

Thank you Ramesh and Satish for your positive critique of my first post to the Avian Forum.
Ian