The lightened version looks better IMO. I'd add back some room bottom, top, and right...the bottom toe is nearly clipped by the edge. My guess is that you cloned out some foliage, but there are remnants on the tail and wing tips.
You are not permitted to clip the toes :) You gotta give them a border.... Vertical here would have worked well..... Lighter is better and the image is sharp.
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The foliage gaffe was so bad it actually knocked out my internet connection. Now that I'm back, it's time to go back to the drawing board. I should have stuck to my minimal gardening rule.