Ring necked parakeet

[Ivan Ellison]

Imagine my surprise when this cracker landed on my peanut feeders yesterday morning. Then decided to eat some of the neighbours apples that were overhanging into my garden. There have been a few seen in south Manchester and one or two near to Bury. They must now be spreading their wings into Prestwich. Hope he comes back on regular basis.
Canon 1D mkIV
Canon 500 f +1.4
Cropped to about 80% of original-just the edges brought in. Lightened and sharpened
1/800 sec
f5.6
ISO 640

[gail bisson]

Lucky you Ivan! It is always so exciting to see a new species at a feeder. And then the mad scramble to get one's gear while praying that the bird doesn't fly away etc etc,
Good IQ and choice of crop/comp.
I might run some NR in the OOF areas in the BG.
Nice to see the apple and the long tail.
Pink at the bottom of the frame is interesting. I like it but also feel it pulls the eye away a bit from the bird but not a big deal at all.
TFS
Gail

[adrian dancy]

It's the best RNP taken in Manchester that I've seen! What a find for your garden!....be careful what you wish for if you have a thousand roosting in your back garden like they have in London! I could live with it though:)

[keith mitchell]

Ivan exotic birds in Manchester! Lived down in Chiswick west London where they where as common as Sparrows, caught this on nicely.

Keith.

[John Robinson]

About the best shot of this species I,ve seen but I wouldn't like to see them common ! Something of ours would have to suffer ! Even if its only apples !!
John

[Karen Pleasant]

What a wonderful surprise you found! Well composed to include his long tail. Eating the apple makes the shot even more interesting. Perhaps you could try to bring out a little more details or contrast in the bird's head, neck and back. you could also consider removing the 3 white spots above the bird if you are into that kind of thing. TFS!

[Mike Poole]

Excellent example Ivan, makes a nice change from ultra clean backgrounds (can see why John likes it!), and even though it's an almost all green shot the subject pops nicely.

We get a fair few of these in South Manchester - Fog Lane park, Fletcher Moss and Platt fields are all good locations - I really should go and get some more shots.

Mike

[Ivan Ellison]

Thanks folks. the pink is the roof of a neighbours house in the bg. Mike - you really must get out to have a go at the ones in Didsbury, I think they make great subjects and look quite good in the Uk. I know they may yet become a problem species like grey squirrels but time will tell. AD, wouldn't mind a few in the garden but probably not the 1000's they have down south.