Guess my perch!?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Happy 2012 to everyone here on BPN! Thanks for making this community such a great place to learn and grow in this hobsession of ours (hobby + obsession = hobsession ).

This is a fiscal shrike. An image from 2010 during a visit to the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa.
Whoever guesses the exact description for the perch this bird is poised on gets 10 points in their little red books and a golden star on his/her forehead

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
f8.0 @ 1/1250 SS @ ISO-400

[Geir Jensen]

Beautiful picture. I like IQ, BG, perch? Bones from an old animal skeletons

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mork, good exposure on the shrike, sharp, and I like the angled pose. What a killer BG too.

My PM hopefully has the answer.

[gail bisson]

Very nice image. I like the position of the feet and the BG. Perch looks like skeletal remains ? elephant. Nice exposure on blacks and whites
gail

[dankearl]

Nice pose and BG, Morkel.
I have no idea as to the perch, but bones seems likely.

[Daniel Cadieux]

No idea on the perch, so I will concur with whoever gets it right!! Super IQ, beautiful BG, and great job on the exposure. I would make the iris a bit lighter, and the crop could work with less above and more at right (even if it gets out of traditional ratios) but all else looks top-notch.

[James Salywoda]

Beautiful pose and shot Morkel love the details and bg well done.

[Don Railton]

Hi Morkel

My guess is that it is part of an Elephant skeleton. Looks like a bone to me as well...

DON

[Sid Garige]

Killer one Morkel. Excellent exposure and details.

[v.p.nurdeen]

Hi Morkel,
Perfect exposure and super BG.
VPN.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for the feedback, folks.
The bird is in fact perched on an old elephant skull lying close to the road...

I said "exact description" so well done to those who said "elephant bones" and not just "bones" gold stars for you...