Hi David,
Firstly apologies if the reply was rather
'blunt', but as they say -
time is money and for me, it's just the key points that need to be raised. Sadly, unlike with Jon, we can't talk on a 1-2-1, and where you have the option to debate, discuss and expand thoughts and views from both sides...
I'll try and break it down into bullet points:
1. OK so you are using ACR, what is the the WB Profile set to... Adobe...?
2. Depending on your choice, even adding a small amount of DH, it still impacts, plus how you apply sharpening and the amounts
3. Not sure on the healing brush and why, but you could use the Adj brush just to slight darken the bill, but when you apply the adjustments do you have the masking area visible so you know where you are brushing in?
4. No NR - perfect
5. I feel at f/8 both the eyes and bill should be in focus, hence suggesting you stepping back which may have helped, how close were you to the subject? When photographing Little Owls f/8 is where I go to, but my distance is perhaps slightly greater than yours, primarily you have to work from a blind, you cannot get closer than 50mm plus, they just fly.
6.
'DOF I don't see an IQ problem here' - it's hard to say without the raw, but overall, I feel the IQ could be better, with much more finer elements, especially around the eyes, it all seems, as presented, a bit coarse, but that might just be within the PP
7. How
'yellow' are the eyes, well that very much dependents on being there I feel David, they may be paler, in the light they may be 'richer' but the elements
(black parts) within the eye should I feel again be less pronounce, however... I'm basing that assumption on our LO's which are very similar, but again lighting plays a apart.
David, all of the above are subjective, just offering my 10 cents....