Western Meadowlark

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Captured this image in Nov. of 2017 in South Texas on a very overcast day. I liked the thorny bush he perched on. This a lifer for me. C&C welcome.

D500, Nikon 500mm f/4G + 1.4 TC, 1/2500s, f 5.6, ISO 3200, Gitzo, Wimberley Gimbal head.

Geoffrey




http://https://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Isaac Grant]

As much as I love a good and intimate close up I equally love shots like this that show the bird in its habitat so nicely. Bird could not have picked a nicer spot to sit on that bush. I like the soft tones from the overcast sky as well. I do see some noise on the bird. Looks like maybe there are some signs of cloning to the right of the opening and right of the bird. Also I am pretty sure that this is an Eastern Meadowlark. Although there is variation between the birds, Eastern has far more gray on the feathers at the base of the bottom of the lower bill. Western is typically much more yellow there and appears to have a larger yellow throat because of this. Any shots of the birds tail? Eastern has much darker base of the retrices (tail feathers) as compared to the much lighter and less densely patterned central tail feathers of western.

[John Mack]

Love the frame within the frame here. Nice detail for the low light.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

As much as I love a good and intimate close up I equally love shots like this that show the bird in its habitat so nicely. Bird could not have picked a nicer spot to sit on that bush. I like the soft tones from the overcast sky as well. I do see some noise on the bird. Looks like maybe there are some signs of cloning to the right of the opening and right of the bird. Also I am pretty sure that this is an Eastern Meadowlark. Although there is variation between the birds, Eastern has far more gray on the feathers at the base of the bottom of the lower bill. Western is typically much more yellow there and appears to have a larger yellow throat because of this. Any shots of the birds tail? Eastern has much darker base of the retrices (tail feathers) as compared to the much lighter and less densely patterned central tail feathers of western.

Thanks Isaac. No cloning right of bird. I did some research even down to the Malar Strip which is difficult at best to say, but I'm now leaning towards Eastern since it's quite white. Only if it had sang its song would be the best ID. As you say, there is variation in each. I'll take a closer look at the tail feathers if I have a clear visual. I addressed the noise on the bird.

Geoffrey




http://https://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Jonathan Ashton]

Geoffrey that is a beautiful image, the bird is ideally located in the frame and shrubbery.
I wonder what it would look like as a smaller image, I feel there may be a better representation of the bird?

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks Isaac, John, and Jonathan. Good point Jonathan.

Geoffrey




http://https://500px.com/geoffreymontagu