Hey Dan,
I know the spot very well........and you have the same issue that I have always had with the tree.......it blends in to much to the BG mountains for my tastes........and I haven't figured out how to get the seperation in it. Bosque produces some of the nicest sunrise/sunsets I have ever seen.....so the colors are right on.........and as David said........the flying flocks add a nice balance to the ones still in the water.........now if only we could figure out what to do with the tree!!!
Great image and what a morning! The colors and contrast are accurate as can be. I can say that since I believe I was standing a few feet away when you made this image. As David mentions the flyout at the back is a nice detail.
I normally like to include the dead tree in a few then make a lot more without it. In this image the bright area is on the right so panning a few degrees over could have centered the brightest part of the sky and excluded the tree. I dont think the image needs the tree. The birds and the colors are more than enough.
I like this one a lot and agree with the other's comments. At the spot I have started to not include the tree as I never liked how it blended into the BG. The BIF in the BG are a nice addition.
BTW Roman, it is not just Bosque that has nice sunsets but all of NM is a great place for them.