Jack Merlin

[David Salem]

This is the same Jack (male) Merlin we have been shooting for three consecutive years. I was planing on four years, but unfortunatly he didn't show up this year. I hope he is still ok but knowing everything that can happen to a little raptor like this in a years time I am not that hopeful. This guy would have probably migrated to somewhere in Canada to breed and rear young, then migrate all the way back down to my doorstep in So Cal to spend the winter. Just like a lot of Canadians I know that snowbird to Palm Springs for the winter. I don't blame him escaping the cold but actually he is just following the small birds that he preys on. He is about as handsome of a Merlin as you could ask to shoot.
Maybe next year he will show up. Crossing my fingers.

1DX---840mm---f7.1---ss1/2500th---ISO640---HH@4:15pm---30% crop

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

David

[Doug Brown]

Gorgeous bird, sweet light, nice pose and a beautiful green BG. Who could ask for more?

[Joe Subolefsky]

WoW fantastic image David. The only nit I can even think of is to possibly blend in or tone down the highlight on the upper beak a bit. TFS

[John Mack]

Very nice like the pose & background.

[David Salem]

Thanks guys!!

Joe, I didn't even think about the highlight on the beak. Thanks for bringing it up. To be honest I don't mind the specular highlight on a lot of images as it adds some dimension IMO. Thanks as always for your comments and help.

[Tim Foltz]

Dave nice shot of this stout little falcon, great pose, perch and BG.

-Tim

[arash_hazeghi]

remember this one Dave, it was a fun shoot! have one just like that great job with processing

[Jonathan Ashton]

Beautiful image, great pose and details. I like the image and I am reluctant to even suggest anything negative, but I do wonder if it is just a tiny wee bit large in the frame.?? May just be me.

[Mike Hitchen]

A lovely bird in a good pose, David.

[keith mitchell]

David this as got to be my favorite little Falcon and having the male is such a bonus ,sorry I can't find a nit to pick,excellent.

Keith.

[annmpacheco]

Handsome indeed, i hope he is well too. Superb image David, a beauty.

[David Salem]

Beautiful image, great pose and details. I like the image and I am reluctant to even suggest anything negative, but I do wonder if it is just a tiny wee bit large in the frame.?? May just be me.

Thanks Everyone for the comments.

Thanks Jon. Yes it might be just a little bit tight in the frame but the nice details and the direct stare prompted me to keep this one a little more intimate. Thanks again

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dave, gotta love the light in this, and you certainly have the luck to capture head turns in most of your images. Tack sharp all round, and I do like the various colours on this fellow.

[William Dickson]

Very well done David. Great light, detail on the bird is amazing. Fantastic pose, HA, perch and BG.

Well done and TFS

Will

[Isaac Grant]

As you said David its all about the light. This is just crazy nice. Perfect pose, eye contact, perch, background and all in to die for light. As good as it gets.

[David Salem]

Thanks guys!! I appreciate your nice comments.

Isaac,
It is all about the light and this was shot in light that had good intensity and quality, and with it obviously directly behind me.
Thanks