Sage Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted May 20, 201592 views8 comments

On my way down the road from the Sage Grouse lek (see previous post), I spotted this little fellow perched up on some dead sage. It posed for me for quite a few frames. This was one of the better head turns.

While I didn't see one, I also heard a lot of Sage Thrashers on the way down, making it a three-sage morning-all new to me.

7Dii, 500mm f4 ISL + 1.4TC, beanbag on truck window, f5.6, 1/3200, iso 1250, aperture priority, center weighted average metering with +1/3 exposure compensation (I hadn't changed my settings from the sage grouse-just carelessness). Processed in LR5 and CS6. Cropped to 11MP. Some oof foreground twigs removed in post processing.

Your comments and critiques are very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on May 21, 2015 at 7:24 AM

Really like this one. The color pallete is great and the cbackground couldn't be any better. This just goes to show an ordinary bird can make an extraordinairy image. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on May 21, 2015 at 10:52 AM

Dennis: I like the perch and pose of this little bird as well as the smooth, uncluttered background. Also, there are excellent detail and tones in the plumage which match the b/g. This one has to be seen large to be appreciated. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by mavourneen strozew on May 21, 2015 at 11:22 AM

I like this one as well. The colors compliment each other; it's kind of like photographing Sage Thrasher's; they all seem to blend in, but look great. It's also sharp and nice light. good capture.

Registered on May 21, 2015, 5 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on May 21, 2015 at 12:04 PM

Very nice, Dennis! I like the perch, the pose, and how the bg color matches the color of the bird.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on May 21, 2015 at 9:08 PM

Dennis this is sweet. I really like the colors muted, but presents a real view of the harsh environment frequented by this bird devil ..................................................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 22, 2015 at 12:55 AM

Sweet color palette, Dennis, and avery nice capture. Good spot, and congratulations on all those lifers.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 22, 2015 at 7:47 AM

Way to go Dennis devil I have been trying to get a close photo of one of these forever it seems (and I still don't have one). You captured a nice pose on a cool perch with a complimentary background, giving us a nice feel for its harsh environment..

Sweet One!

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 22, 2015 at 4:07 PM

The small version really does this image no justice. Nice work Dennis. I really like the monochrome feel of this.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments