Merlin take-off

[Bill Dix]

Female Merlin (please correct if I've mis-ID'd it). I'm not real sure about this image but figured I'd post anyway, to get your thoughts. With Auto WB the image looked extremely red, as the bird did in the field, because of the setting sun. I've desaturated the red channel. Forced to stay on a marked trail, I couldn't move to get the sun at my back. Cropped from horizontal.

D500, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 1600, 1/1600s @ f/6.3 manual.

[John Whaley]

I like your image Bill. Wonderful pose and the outstretched talons add. You don't realize how small they are until you see them in person.

[Alex Becker]

Hi Bill,

Nice look here and I do like the pose and sunset colors. I see a bit of noise in the wingtips -- possibly from sharpening? Agree with John that you don't realize how small they are from pictures. Thanks for sharing this!