Great-tailed Grackle

Gallery: AvianPosted February 19, 2017993 views6 comments

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert, AZ
Date: February 15, 2017, 9:37 am
Equipment: Nikon D7200, Nikkor AF-S 300/4D ED-IF & TC14E (1.4x), G1325, RRS BH-55, ~~Sidekick~~
ISO 800, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/1000th @ F/11
Raw, PS CC 2017 on Mac, 69% of frame

Taken from a floating boadwalk where the challenge is keeping everything steady while the young mothers push their baby carriages and their other charges scamper about.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 19, 2017 at 2:00 PM

Excellent pose and perfect focus, Richard. I like the amount of sharpening you used, if any. The plumage looks just right. I'm ambivalent about the dark reed crossing the breast, but it would take a lot of work to remove it cleanly. I've been on solid boardwalks where the joggers and strollers shake things up pretty well and bridges that are even worse. You held this very well. I prefer hand holding in that situation as the human body makes a pretty good shock absorber.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on February 19, 2017 at 2:34 PM

Very nice pose here. I like the environmental placement of the Grackle. The colors really blend well with those of the bird. I do agree with Dennis with respect to the reed crossing the breast. But that would be really difficult to remove.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on February 19, 2017 at 8:31 PM

It always strikes me how much more beauty you can see in a Grackle of any kind in an image than in real life. There are so many different shades on this bird, from the top of its head to the bottom of the longest tail feather. I like the colors of the reeds with the colors of the bird.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on February 19, 2017 at 8:34 PM

A nice look at this Grackle in it's habitat, Richard. I am on the fence regarding the reed crossing the bird. It is the scene as presented to you. Great light and really nice detail in the Grackle.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 20, 2017 at 4:01 PM

A pretty capture of a pretty lady, Rich. The reeds crossing the bird give a nice depth to the image.

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on February 20, 2017 at 5:28 PM

Great detail in the Grackle with a very complimentary bg. Like others I'm indifferent concerning the reed crossing the body.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments