Altamira Oriole & repost

Gallery: AvianPosted April 16, 201586 views10 comments

There's a small USFW preserve just a few minutes from Falcon State Park in Texas called Salineño or the USFWS Kelper Tract. It's right on the Rio Grande and gets quite a few south Texas specialties. It got started 30 years ago when some birders bought it and started putting out feeders. Now there a winter volunteers who do the feeding and a donation jar at the entrance. Three species of Oriole at once seemed to me to merit a fairly substantial donation.

7Dii, 500mm f4 ISL + 1.4TC, Jobu Gimbal on RRS legs, f/5.6, 1/1250, iso 1250, aperture priority, center weighted average metering, no compensation. Processed in LR5 & CS6. It was a rather cloudy morning with even a bit of rain, so I warmed it up a little in processing. Cropped to 12.5MP from the original 20. Taken at 10:34 am on March 3rd.

Your comments are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 16, 2015 at 11:12 PM

As soon as I posted this, I realized that the bright green area on the right was drawing my eye. Here's a repost with it removed.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on April 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM

Lovely bird and image, Dennis - I really love the colour scheme in this. The dull conditions really work well for the bright yellows on the bird - well done!

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 17, 2015 at 4:23 AM

That was worth the donation indeed ! Great bird, lovely shot. The repost is even better, although I must admit that the green did not disturb when I looked at the first image. Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on April 17, 2015 at 8:04 AM

Very nice indeed Dennis, the rich, deep orange plumage really 'pops' and cracking detail in the blacks too, wise choice in the RP, great stuff.

TFS

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 17, 2015 at 1:57 PM

I wasn't bothered with the green patch Dennis- I hardly noticed it until you called attention to it. Both comps work well for me, this is such a great bird and you rendered the image beautifully. devil

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 17, 2015 at 4:29 PM

For me, getting an Oriole down to my eye level is a near miracle, Dennis. This looks great and toning down that bright area is a good improvement. The perch and the details in the bird are lovely.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 17, 2015 at 10:20 PM

Dennis, to be honest that little green patch didn't bother me. I never noticed it until you mentioned it! This is one gorgeous bird. The large image is just fantastic! devil

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 18, 2015 at 6:42 AM

A simply sweet portrait of this handsome fellow Dennis. Wonderful details, I really like the complimentary background.

I haven't had much time to comment lately, but I've been enjoying your portfolio from your Texas trip.

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 21, 2015 at 7:56 AM

Great catch, composition, colors and perch, couldn'r be better,

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 22, 2015 at 5:20 AM

Yup...he really pops from the scene here, Dennis! Certainly the repose is "cleaner" although as Chuck suggested it wasn't a deal-breaker in the original. Good decision on the overall composition here as well. Very nice frame.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments