I created this image yesterday in Ottawa's west end about 15 minutes from my home. This bird stayed perched on the tallest branch of a tree for over an hour.
During most of that time it didn't do much but look around. A couple of times however it preened or stretched a wing. I clipped one of the wings when I was shooting in portrait format but I managed this one in landscape format when it was regaining its balance following a strong gust of wind.
Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500mm on BushHawk with Fill Flash. Cropped to about 40% of full frame from Landscape mode. Cloned out several other slightly shorter branches. I have other images with better eye contact but it was looking at another photographer when I made this capture.
ISOSpeedRatings - 640
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/640 seconds
ApertureValue - F 7.10
Flash - Flash fired, Compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 363 mm