Merlin with Dragonfly

[David Salem]

I just realized that though some friends have posted many frames of this beautiful female Columbarius Merlin, I have never posted one of her before. She has been back to the exact same spot we first found her two years in a row and hunts dragonflies in the warmth of the last weeks of fall.
Once the cold hits and the dragonflies leave, she is gone too. She stays for about two weeks.
I have had many friends and clients out to shoot her as she is unbelievably cooperative and avidly hunts many dragonflies in a morning or evenings feed without a care in the world.
This is my favorite static frame from the many I have of her.

1DX---840mm---f7.1---ss1/2500---ISO640---HH@9:15---35% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[David Salem]

Forgot to mention, would you keep the spider web on the left with the bug in it or clone it out?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

[Grace Scalzo]

Funny you ask, as I was thinking about that as I admired this stunning frame. I'd remove it....seems to distract me for no good reason. As for the bird and her prey, drop dead perfect.

[David Salem]

Thanks Grace! Glad you like it. I processed this one with a few contests in mind so I didn't clone out the web. I probably should have for this group but I thought I would see what the consensus was. Pretty quick and easy to do so I won't re-post as you all can see what the outcome would be. Thanks for your input.

[annmpacheco]

Hi David, impressive for sure, she's color coordinating her snacks too! HA is so superb and the sheen in the feathers is attractive. Id leave the web and bug as is, gives interest to me in the natural habitat.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent frame Dave, you got some of the best images of this bird and with a prey on top of that! you already know what I think about the spider. I might just sharpen the lower part of the perch too (where it's going a bit out of focus)

great work! you should change your avatar to this BTW!

[Lorant Voros]

What an image! Everything is pretty much perfect and the dragonfly snack is super. I'd get rid off the spider web. Nice one, David.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image David! I like the IQ, prey, pose, details, composition and complimentary BG. I would lose the web as well.

[dankearl]

Top notch look at this raptor.
I would get rid of the web and fly.

[keith mitchell]

David would not touch a thing it's perfect.

Keith.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Fantastic shot, yes definitely keep the strand of web otherwise it could look a bit too good to be true!! I am just dithering does it need just a little more space on the RHS...just a little?

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and for your help. I appreciate it. Looks like the group is split on the spider web.

Arash, I might do that! I have had the same avatar for years, or maybe I should use a mug shot

Jonathan, I guess I could add a little to the right but since she is looking directly at us I didn't think it needed more space for her to look into? Thanks as always for your suggestions.

[Bill Dix]

A real beauty, David. Most definitely contest material, but aside from that the web doesn't add anything to the image, which is near perfection. I had the same thought as Jonathan about just a sliver more room on the right.

[Dennis Behn]

There have already been a lot of comments but I can't help adding 1 more. For me, this is an absolutely gorgeous shot. I really like the background and the bird is so crisp and clean! And of course the prey itself beautiful. Superb!!

[shane shacaluga]

Top marks from me too! IQ is superb and BG to die for. The added dragonfly prey adds even more to this

As a lover of all things arachnid i would leave the web.

TFS

[christopher galeski]

Excellent image,its all been said,I would remove the bit of web.well done.

[William Dickson]

Love it. Couldn't get any better. Well done David and TFS

Will

[David Salem]

Thanks again everyone. I appreciate your comments.

[Eric Dienesch]

Hello,

i have to say something to such a great image, i love it. and for sure keep the spider web, that was the concrete situation and for me is it like a second small eye catcher !

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image with wonderful color scheme. Very nice calling pose with fly in the beak..
Superb details and great composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[David Salem]

Thanks again everyone!