Chachalaca on Immortelle

[Bill Dix]

The Rufous-vented Chachalaca was a constant presence at our lodges on both Trinidad and Tobago. It is, in fact, one of the national birds of the country. They woke us every morning with their raucous dawn calls. They were so common, in fact, that I didn't realize until the last day of the trip that I had neglected to photograph them. They particularly like the Immortelle tree, on which one is pictured here on a rainy morning at the Cuffie River lodge. His walking pose reminded me of a tightrope walker.........

D7200, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 3200, 1/2500s @ f/7.1 manual, fill @ -2.0.

[Bill Dix]

........so I've shown him here on a telephone wire.

..and btw, happy 1st of April.

[Lorant Voros]

Awesome! I like the raised foot, nice body and head angle and great IQ. Great images both, though I prefer the perch of the OP:).

[Colin Driscoll]

Yes the OP is my pick too, great match with the BG and the flowers and pods add value.

[Karl Egressy]

Great looking bird, nicely captured, Bill. Both images look good. The bird looks so much better than the Plain one in Texas.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely image, Bill. Beautiful bird, nicely shown, background and perch compliment the bird. Thank you for sharing.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Very nice capture, Bill. I'm liking the original, but appreciate the work on the composite. Like the wet feathers and the drops of water clinging to the wire.


Geoffrey

[gail bisson]

I like this!OP that is.
Great PP work on pane 2.
Great perch and terrific BG.
The foot up is great.
IQ excellent.
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all. I see now that my April Fools joke was a little too subtle. On our last day at Cuffie River, having not captured a shot of this species, I stood on the balcony on a rainy morning and the only Chachalacas I could find were on the telephone wire. Preferring a more natural setting, I took a bunch of shots of the Immortelle tree, and made a composite of bird and tree as shown in Pane #1. Yes, I do like the OP better, even if it wasn't the original capture.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bill, a bird I have not seen, and just love the angled perch, with a perfect angled pose from the bird. Good detail on him, and everything stands out against the darker BG.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Stu.