Plain Chachalaca

[Bill Dix]

From Martin Ranch, TX, this time last year.

D500, 80-400 VR @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/1600s @ f/7.1 manual.

[annmpacheco]

Nothing plain about this chachalaca Bill, IQ, detail, and BG colors are all terrific. I would wish for more room in front of the bird but with such a long tail, maybe you didn't have the pixels. Looks really good!

[Isaac Grant]

Pretty shot Bill on a beautiful perch. Really like how the lines of the bird seem to extend the lines of the perch. Light was a bit harsh but very nice overall.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

A stranger in my books so TFS Bill! I think a lighter BG would have accentuated the bird a little better but that's not something you've had control over!

[John Mack]

Really like the perch with the vegetation. The pose and background are great. Well done.

[Dorian Anderson]

Great looking shot! Love that we can see his red throat patch. Loads of greta detail. I was just birding in the valley this week, and I heard a lot
of good things about this place.

[Arthur Morris]

Well done in relatively harsh light. A bit off the top would better balance the image design. Ditto Dorian on the throat patch. Was the perch part of the set-up?

with love, artie

[Arthur Morris]

Nothing plain about this chachalaca Bill, IQ, detail, and BG colors are all terrific. I would wish for more room in front of the bird but with such a long tail, maybe you didn't have the pixels. Looks really good!

Hi Ann, I am confused by this: "... wish for more room in front of the bird."

artie

[annmpacheco]

Hi Ann, I am confused by this: "... wish for more room in front of the bird."

artie

Me too, I didn't have my browser open, expanded so it looked too tight in the frame. It looks just right!

[Bill Dix]

Well done in relatively harsh light. A bit off the top would better balance the image design. Ditto Dorian on the throat patch. Was the perch part of the set-up?

with love, artie

Thanks Artie. This was taken from a blind, but the perch is naturally growing vegetation. I agree about the light. By the time we had our fill of Caracaras at a different blind, the Texas sun had gotten high and bright.

Dorian, the Martin Ranch is a good location for Crested Caracaras and Harris's Hawks, and occasional other raptors. Also check out Laguna Seca Ranch, where we saw more species.

[Arthur Morris]

Me too, I didn't have my browser open, expanded so it looked too tight in the frame. It looks just right!

Been there, done that!

a

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Artie. This was taken from a blind, but the perch is naturally growing vegetation.

Thanks Bill. Assuming that the perch was uncut naturally occurring vegetation that is what you call a bush in the right place!

am

[Dorian Anderson]

Yeah, I know about Laguna Seca and Santa Clara. I just have a hard time stomaching $250 a day to shoot......

Thanks Artie. This was taken from a blind, but the perch is naturally growing vegetation. I agree about the light. By the time we had our fill of Caracaras at a different blind, the Texas sun had gotten high and bright.

Dorian, the Martin Ranch is a good location for Crested Caracaras and Harris's Hawks, and occasional other raptors. Also check out Laguna Seca Ranch, where we saw more species.