Indigo Bunting

[Ilija Dukovski]

Only now, during PP, I realized that there is a second grass stem in front of the perch.
Perfect alignment and coincidence.
I would appreciate your comments. Keep or not?

Nikon D80, Nikkor 300mm +TC1.4, SB800 @ -1 1/3,
Matrix AP +1/3, f/5.6 1/160 ISO400

Brightened, saturated in CR, sharpened, noise reduced in BG in PS.

[Keith Carver]

Image would be cleaner if you could get eliminate the front stem, but it may not be possible to restore details of feet. I would also eliminate the tall vertical grass stem on the left. Nice EXP and head angle. Tail seems a little OOF.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Good angle, eye contact and setting, interesting crop idea, too. I would have probably put the bird a bit higher in the frame. The catchlight looks a bit big for my taste. The stem doesn't really bother me since it is parallel to the perch.

[Stu Bowie]

Amazing colour on the bunting, and like the diagonal perch. I only find the large blade of grass emerging from your signature distracting.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Nice picture, I agree with Stuart, my eye is pulled down to that blade of grass.

Colorful and beautiful bird, nice habitat image.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Thank you for the responses.
I'm glad the front grass does not bother too much.
Nice to know, since I don't think it is possible to eliminate it.