The Fight Has Begun

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

This another image taken during the battle of the flickers to keep their home that they had made. The starlings were relentless and brought in an extra battalion to help fight the battle.

Nikon D300
Nikon 300 mm F2.8
ISO 400
1/1350, F5.6
manual

All comments are very much appreciated.

[Sid Garige]

You did exceptional job getting this guys in flight Judy. Great work.

[Nate Chappell]

Great capture Judy Lynn, very dramatic.:cool:

[Scott Frye]

Very nicely presented and the open beak adds to the drama -- interesting story also

[Ofer Levy]

Hi Judy, this is another awesome image in a fantastic series. I feel the trunk being in front of the bird doesn't add to the image. Here is a repost without the trunk and with slight adjustments to brightness of bird and BG. Please let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Ofer

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hi Judy Lynn,
Super capture! Wing position, open bill, and BG are fantastic and while I didn't mind the log.....I do prefer the repost. This is a great sequence you are having!

[Doug Brown]

What a great series Judy! Very nice!

[Ed Cordes]

Super series! I like the wonderful detail and open beak. The log is a bit distracting, but the repost is too narrow for my taste, so I would stay original.

[Grace Scalzo]

Keep these coming, Judy Lynn, very unique and dramatic.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Judy, this series has been throughly enjoyable. Loved the wing position here. Superb action shot all around. Thx for sharing.

[Stu Bowie]

Great wing position Judy, and well timed to get the open beak. I would leave your OP as is.

[RAM MALLYA]

amazing flight captured

[Morkel Erasmus]

stunning pose here Judy! it does look like the bird is soft as if noise reduction was applied to it? the feather detail looks too smooth to my eye :)

[allanrube]

Great capture. I like the repost without the tree better - more focus on the flicker. I think a faster shutter speed would have helped. Everything is so sharp I think the wing tips should be too.
But what do I know? :) It is hard to say because I have never captured a small bird in flight as well as this!

[Patricio Murphy]

Amazing shot! Can't make up my mind about the post... I think I'd leave it as is.

[Joe Senzatimore]

An outstanding series photographed very, very well. Keep them coming and let us know who wins!!!!

[Dan Woodward]

Judy Lynn IMO a home run image Like the post in as gives better idea of subject size.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Many thanks Ofer for your suggestion and I for the repost. I do like the repost and can see your reason for isolating the flicker. Because there was such a battle going on between the flickers and the starlings coming out of the stump I was tempted to leave it in. I appreciate your thoughts and again thanks for taking the time to repost.

judlynn

[Fabs Forns]

Good catch, comadre, I had trouble following them with the 600. Since I was there, I like the inclusion of the tree as part of the story.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Loved this Judy, the story makes it work with the tree in the frame, I like the isolated image too as It keep your focus on.

[Markus Jais]

Awesome shot with great wing pose and sharpness. The open bill is fantastic.

Markus

[Hendri Venter]

Wow!! Brilliant. Just love that pose with the open beak. Many congrats Judy.

[Stephen Stephen]

Judy, Hendri just took the words right out of my mouth! Wonderful!