Pallid Cuckoo portrait

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Captured this yesterday afternoon. Yes, harsh light, but it's the very first time I managed to get close to this species of Cuckoo. It was perched on a wooden fence at the lowlands of Richmond and ducked into the grasses every couple of minutes or so to catch a caterpillar. It feeds on the ones every other bird ignores. Especially the big hairy ones. Stacked my converters onto my 300/4L for this and used my car window for support. Manual focus, cropped to vertical from horizontal image. I will post more of this girl (it is a female).

30D, 300/2x+1.4x, ISO400, f/16, 1/500th, -1/3EC. 430EX at -1 1/3, beamer.

[Paul Randall]

This is amazing Akos, cant believe you got a portrait shot of this bird!!
My only suggestion is to lighten the eye a touch. I can see a hint of the pupil but would like to see more.
Other than that, wow, keep up the good work.

[Jim Fenton]

I think it's a great capture given the light youi were working with and I like the crop.

I agree with Paul regarding the eye and would both lighten it a bit and shrpen it a bit as well.

It amazes me what Canon photogs are able to pull off when stacking converters.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks Paul. I am stoked, as the only other time I saw these they were nearly impossible to approach and I had no bag hide. The car is a fabulous piece of camouflage - well hide at least. :)

Interestingly, I lightened the eye already in the OP and it appeared fine. In any case, here is one with lighter eye and more sharpening. Thanks for looking. :)

[Lorant Voros]

Akos,

It is amazing how you can get this close to all these birds and especially to this one. It must be due to your tiny body, right?
Light is harsh indeed, but hey, man, I wish I had a photo like this in my collection. Sharp, nice detail, open beak is a big bonus. Repost is better. Big congratulations.

[Paul Randall]

Repost gives it a bit more life I think.

[Brian Barcelos]

Akos, great catch man. I love head portraits of little birds because it is usually quite a challenge. Great job with light conditions and stacking converters. I'd like to see the eye somewhere between the two posts IMO. Congrats

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I also find the combination of teleconverters to yield very good IQ. Very interesting bird and pose. The repost makes this one better.

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Prefer the repost. Great IQ achieved with stacked convertors. Well done.

[Harshad Barve]

lovely image with nice details
I would prefer repost with eye (of bird) from OP
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Pin sharp Bro, and I like the angle of capture. Great detail throughout, and just love the open beak. Your repost works well. Great image mate.

[Daniel Belasco]

Nice and sharp and even though you complained about the light--the light looks fine. Your Cuckoos are more colorful than our Mangrove Cuckoo which are very shy.

[Simon Bennett]

Wonderful portrait, especially the calling pose. Also like the detail you've captured. Well done getting him down low, most times they are at tree top level around here.

[arash_hazeghi]

Very nice Akos, good job with manual focus :) repost is an improvement

[Rob Drummond]

Amazing Akos - great portrait and I love the calling posture so typical of this species

cheers
Rob

[Leo Berzins]

Nice sharp, detailed portrait Ákos.

[Jeff Davies]

Superb photo Akos but more importantly comgratulations on correctly identifying this bird as a female. Most Australians and some field guides describe this plumage as immature. Female Pallids come in a number of different morphs and this is one of them.

Cheers jeff Davies.

[David Fletcher]

Cracking portrait Akos. Love the details. Congrats on your catch and good techs.

[Chris Kotze]

Excellent image. Sharp and super detail. I Like the open beak

[denise ippolito]

Akos, Very nice sharp details and open mouth. I think the eye lightness in the OP is fine,but never having seen the species in person I couldn't say for sure. Beautiful open mouth! Well done.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks everyone for looking! :) I appreciate your time taken.

For the record, the bird appeared to be panting, not calling, but it looks good regardless. Funny, as it was not a particularly warm Aussie day. On another note, the eye did look like the OP. I am happy to repost lighter if folks so wish. I do think also the OP is more closer to the real eye. :)

Thanks again everyone. :)

[Kiran Poonacha]

Killer one Bhai, the repost looks great, congrats..