White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger) Awabakal NR
White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger) Awabakal NR NSW Australia
Canon EOS 40D Lens 100-400mm L IS USM at 400mm ISO 400 F13.0 1/400 available light 8 June 2010
This White-cheeked Honeyeater was also taken this morning at Awabakal Nature Reserve Dudley NSW in coastal heath on first day in the field due to a period of persistent rain. This morning Little Wattlebirds made photography difficult as they chased the White-cheeks as they were moving through the coastal heath possibly a territorial encounter. However two similar species the New Holland Honeyeater and the White-cheeked Honeyeater depicted here occur together with little conflict as they occupy niches which allow a peaceful space. Earlier I submitted a New Holland Honeyeater in this Forum at: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ht=new+holland.
Further information on this species can be viewed at: http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Phylidonyris-nigra
Thanks for viewing
Best regards
Rod Warnock
This is a very good image of a most interesting bird. But there are a couple of things I'd change if the image were mine.
On my monitor, some of the feather definition in the white regions above and below the eye seems to be lost. I would go back to the original file and try to bring out that feather definition.
More importantly, I think that the vegetation beneath the bird dominates too much of the image. My suggestion would be to crop the image at the level of the top of the vegetation on the right, and to add more space above and to the right of the bird.
Interesting crop suggestion ny Norm, would love to see it. Beautiful bird. A bit more head turn towards you would have given the image more intimacy. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Rod.
Well caught, Rod. Lovely and sharp. I agree that more room above and right would be worth a try. I like the hint of clouds in the blue sky and actually like the foliage as presented. I would mask the sharpening from the twigs.