Western Meadowlark II

Gallery: AvianPosted July 25, 20162,206 views9 comments

Canon 1D-X, 500mm f4 x 1.4 TC, handheld from truck window
f10, 1/800, ISO200, -0.67ev

This is an earlier, more distant shot of the same bird I posted earlier. I was tempted to reject it for the bare patch on the throat, but now I'm not so sure. I don't think it's molt; Meadowlarks have a progressive molt. Injury or disease?

50% of full frame. Cloned out a major amount of messy chalk on post. Adjustments to Levels. Selective sharpening of bird.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on July 25, 2016 at 2:08 PM

Classic perch and pose. Complimentary background with nice detail in the perch and pose.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on July 25, 2016 at 2:28 PM

Jim, although the bird looks a little worse for wear, I like the techs on this image, as well as the composition-more than the previous post. devil

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on July 25, 2016 at 2:32 PM

You've done a good job with this image. The colors and details are very nice. Light is very pleasing. Background makes the whole image come together.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on July 25, 2016 at 3:29 PM

Love the way the color of the lychen on the pole matches the birds. Overall a great image. Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 25, 2016 at 5:50 PM

Nice, Jim. I don't know what could have caused the neck issue. I like having more of the perch compared to your last image, even if it was a pain to clean up-some of my back yard perches really start to show the use this time of year, but the winter rains on this side of the mountains takes care of that issue pretty well.

A really nice pose and good detail.

devil

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on July 25, 2016 at 10:12 PM

I like this over your previous post, Jim. Even with the neck issue. That old weathered post and that beautiful background are really nice. I agree, probably not molt on the neck. Maybe some type of parasite?

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on July 26, 2016 at 11:21 AM

Hi Jim
Nice post work, I think you could have taken a little of the top of the frame.
Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 26, 2016 at 9:32 PM

Another fine meadowlark image, Jim. I like the secondary elements in the image, namely the perch and background as much as the subject itself. The meadowlark itself is very sharp and in great light. Well composed too.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 26, 2016 at 9:51 PM

I think the bare neck adds some interest in my opinion. It makes a good shot to study because of it. I know many birds pick their own feathers for a number of reasons, but wouldn't know the first thing about why this one was. I like this crop much better than the other with more of the perch visible. nice work!

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