I've been having great luck with encounters of friendly Ring-necked Pheasant families out in the open at a local grassland preserve. I had gone there the other day still looking for, again recently sighted Blue Grosbeak, with no luck. As I was about to head out an Indigo Bunting called out just behind me. He was not perched for long, but as I moved up the path I saw a family of at least seven youngsters and Mom dining together. They let me slowly walk along behind them at times within fifteen feet away. Was also treated to a White-tailed deer buck crossing the path not far from me. Captured this image in early evening. C&C welcome.
D500, Sigma 150-600mm C @ 600mm, 1/640s, f/6.3, HH, ISO 1600.
Geoffrey, this was a nice treat for you. It's frustrating sometimes hunting one thing and coming up empty but at least you got a cool encounter and a nice frame!
You did pretty well to expose this one despite it being a little backlit and you controlled motion blur well considering a 1/640 SS. Nice job.
Love the vegetation here and the longer grasses under and behind help frame the Pheasant. Maybe pushing the cropping limit at the top a hair for my taste, but heck I'd take it as is too.
TFS!
PS - I have had good luck with audio lately on the small songbirds. Do you use it?
A great encounter, and nice look at this juvie with his walking pose. You handled the backlighting well. I wonder if using Curves to lift the mid-tones might help?