Starling

[Stu Bowie]

The HA police can give me a warning for not having the best angle here, but hey, I dont think this starling understood english. As per my settings, overcast conditions. Taken in the Kruger National Park. Removed some foliage around the foot.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 310mm
1/160
F/6.3
ISO 640

Exp Comp +0.67
Hand Held

[David Fletcher]

:D.. HA police don't matter too much Stu. Just like to draw attention to some finer points like the EGES, although said in differing context. :D. Like as presented. Good sharpness throughout. Like look back and bg. Pretty well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

No trouble from the HAP here Stuart - I'm actually finding it perfect for a look-back pose. Great colours on this bird. I wouldn't mind seeing placed a little higher in the frame (although I'm sure there were even distractions lower?). There seems to be a very faint OOF branch cutting across the tail feathers.

P.S. Great BG!

[Morkel Erasmus]

you nailed the lovely colours of this bird, mate! lovely soft light and good 'clean-up' work.

[Jim Fenton]

The exposure to bring out the feathers is just perfect here.

Background is OOF nicely.

I will play HA police as a bit more look back may have been better, but I realize the subjects head wasn't attached to a string :)

If the subject were a slight bit higher in the frame or there was a bit less empty space at the top, I might have played with that crop.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the soft light, iridescence, sharpness, look-back pose and BG and only wish the lower branch were not there. It looks as if something blocked the branch in the lower right.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

HA is fine for me bro. Maybe it spoke Afrikaans? ;) The plumage appears a touch noisy and maybe it's my eyes or the iridescence, please correct me if I am not right. I love the sheen and I think you managed extremely well considering conditions!

[Michael Zajac]

Beautiful pose w/ look back. I like the iridescent plumage and you captured it well. Nice overall sharpness and BG.

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Colours well exposed and great feather detail. Well done!

[Harshad Barve]

lovely looking starling , spot on expo , compo and sharpness ,
TFS

[Dave Barnes]

Stu I with Akos on the noise, but it could be from too much sharpening as well. Pity you could not have got a bit lower but still a nice image showing the iridescence well.

[Daniel Belasco]

Beautiful bird, great colors and well captured. Since you removed some foilage around the foot I find the green leaf a little distracting since there is so much detail on the branch.

[arash_hazeghi]

Yellow eye really stands out against blue feathers, sharpness is spot on.

[Rob Drummond]

Nice one Stuart - good job with the sheen on the plumage. Which of the glossy starlings is this?

cheers
Rob

[Stu Bowie]

Thjank you all so much for the kind words. Much appreciated.

Akos, Dave, I agree there is a hint of noise visible.

Rob, My bird book doesnt actually show this species of Starling, but the booklet from the park describes this as a Burchell's Starling. Thats why I just called him a starling.

[Dave Barnes]

Hi Stu, I think you have the ID incorrect.
The Burchells has a black eye and a longer tail, this looks like the Greater Blue-eared Starling to me.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks Dave, Im taking your word for it - thats the reason I just named it a Starling, I was unsure.