We have a productive and very large salt-marsh close by. Spaces are wide open and the Rough-leg loves these conditions. There is a ton of snow on the ground here even in these open areas but the birds seem none the worse for wear (lots of snow makes hunting of small mammals more difficult). I think this is a young bird (yellow eye) and is quite dark but not as dark as a dark-phase animal. Hawk experts please chime in though- I'm all ears!
Nothing done other than a crop to about 40% of original size and sharpen.
Date: 12 February, 2011, Time: 1456h
Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM, 500 mm
Program: Manual
ISO 800, 1/500s, f/6.3
Exp. comp.: 0.0
Flash: off
I really like the pose and high key lighting. I am wondering if you've tried a more compact cropping (or square cropping) removing some of the "air" above the bird.
What a wonderful image, John. For me the bit of blue sky and habitat at the bottom really makes this image work. Like Dave I think I would like to see the hawk have a bit more bite though, but like he says, that could be down to taste. Lovely!
Rough-legged Hawk/Buzzard
