Hi Jay, yes they can look pretty as you said. The colours in the BG show the bird well. I think you can sharpen the bird more, if the crop allows it. If the perch is what I think it is, I can smell it from here
Thanks for the suggestion. In doing a bit more processing (don't think I did more sharpening here) - it appeared to me the WB was off. I like the original BKG but it seemed to Ccast the bird...so, there's a mod.
As for the perch, you know your piles Bill!... but, actually no smell at this time! Happy Shooting!
Not sure that a pigeon on a pile of poop makes for a keeper. 2nd shot looks over sharpened to me. Did you use Detail Extractor on the 2nd shot? If so at what opacity and setting? Has that look to it of a slightly over cooked DE to me. Background is nice.
I'm not bothered by the perch... no more than a raptors chomping down on another birds leg or wing. All bird surroundings out and about. 2nd shot didn't receive any new sharpening as best I recall - just a white balance eye dropper and lifting out some white from the bird's underside as I recall.