fox sparrow in the bush

I really liked the red branches here. I probably could have moved in and gotten a much tighter image of this sparrow but I'm really trying to get away from the typical bird photography formula:
1 bird + 1 branch + clean backround + no "distractions".
Us bird photographers call it the "bird on a stick"(BOAS) style of avian photography.
Canon 40D, 400mm IS, handheld, slight crop, 1/320 @ 5.6

Thank goodness the trend seems to be away from BOAS... For portraiture of birds it is grand. But birds live somewhere, and I enjoy seeing that part as well. I like the look in this image very much. The red branches are great. Looks like a spot over at Green Lake (Seattle) that the blackbirds like.

I too enjoy your desire to get captures of birds in their environment. I also like to do that but tend to go either way as the situation presents itself. This fox sparrow looks good in among those red branches.

It takes more work (IMO) to get a good environmental shot of a bird. I can't remember his name, but there's a photographer in India that posts to the Avian gallery who is really good at it.

You guys know your birds and thats a must i imagine. I really like this shot, great comp, looks great in the 'bush'.

Dan, great shot. I really like the trend lately to show more of the birds and animals enviroment when capturing. Portrait shot do have their place, but I think we need both. Love the red branches. Do you know what they are?

You mean to say that birds don't exist entirely within a dimension composed of smooth, creamy ether? Huh...

I like the warm colors and support your choice of composition. Looks to be Barberry bush, possibly. Nice shot.