Ruby-crowned Kinglet

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 VR @ 360 mm; ISO 800, 1/50s. @ f/6.3;Aperture priority, HH, natural light, Matrix metering, 0EV. AF-A, WB-A.

Last Sunday in Cape May. I know the slow SS in dim light created some problems here, along with the rump in shadow, OOF feet and no tail. The biggest problem, aside from a very small and flighty bird, was the need for a lot of cloning to extricate him from the BG. But since this the first image I have gotten of a RCK with ruby crown showing (in October, no less), I figured it was worth trying to salvage. Suggestions, C&C welcomed.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Bill,
Agree with your self-critique but I would definitely have wanted to keep this image -sometimes we have to take what we can get. What a cute little bird! The eye is beautifully sharp and we have a great view of the ruby crown.
Best,
Nicki

[Harshad Barve]

what a cool and cute bird , agree with you
TFS

[Colin Driscoll]

There seems to be a bit of motion blur so I had a go at improving it using Neat Image.

[Dave Blinder]

Great job getting the crest showing Bill. Good use of the frame too.

I would have gone up to at least ISO 1600 to recover the shutter speed, or ideally use flash as the main lighting.