Just Weaving

Cant' help with the ID, but this is a nice action shot with the bird looking quite intent on its task. There seems to be a quite a bit of negative space and I wonder how it would look with some of the right sky cropped out.

Very nice image ken. The techs look great. I agree with Allen about the negative space. Maybe a little less space on the right. Regardless of the crop, this is a great capture. Well done.

Depending on where you took the shot, I would go for the Lesser Masked Weaver.
Cheers, Hans

Nice capture, great light, nice red eye!

It is a minor issue, but I guess I would try more of a portrait crop. Not a big deal as you got the shot and can crop however you like.

Now, my bigger question.....what the hell is he doing?

Al

I can't help you on the ID on that side of the world Ken...however, wish I knew...that would imply I have been there. I might be tempted to do a vertical crop on this one. Very cool behavior.

No ID here. I agree with the cropping comments others have made.

Nice bold colors. I see a bit of a halo around the bird/stick which I'm sure was introduced during post production

An upside down image of a bird on a stick. Fine image. Great detail, color and nice pose.

I agree with the crop suggestions, if you have the pixels. Great little weaver and Very nice action here - weaving the start of a (large) hanging nest.
Sandy

Where was it photographed Ken? Love the image

Thanks everybody, the crop was largely determined by the IQ, although I had a large lens (thanks James) I was still a long way off.
With regard to the ID it would have been helpful if I had let everybody know where it was taken, which was Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, which is in the south a good way from the coast.
The eye is red which is according to my bible fairly rare, this rules out the Lesser Masked Weaver (sorry Hans )
I am therefore left with Southern Masked or Tanzania Masked, but neither seem to have such a large mask.

Alan,
Sandy has answered your question, this is the male starting out on weaving a new nest, the female does not take part in nest building!

For me that is a Black Headed Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus paroptus) The paroptus variant has more black on the head.
It can't be a Lesser Masked Weaver because of the red eye.

I like the shot Ken, it is good to see the weaver at his craft. As has been said, there is perhaps a bit too much empty space which seems to serve no purpose other than to bring the subject off-centre.

Martin,
Thanks for the ID, it certainly fits the size of the cap. In my bible (Birds of Africa South of the Sahara), this one does not have a red-eye, I am now very puzzled

Ken,

In both the HELM Field Guide "Birds of East Africa" and HELM "Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania" the Black Headed Weaver has a red eye.
I know Ruaha is not northern Tanzania, but the range of most birds varies quite a bit.

Martin,
This one will run and run, and is described in my book as a Village (Spotted Backed) Weaver
Let's face it the differences are so marginal, this why I cannot get a grip on Bird ID, I will bow to your greater knowledge

The HELM books both offer Village Weaver as an alternate name for the Black Headed Weaver.
As you say, the similarities are greater than the differences.

A sweet behavior study photo this beauty Ken