Garrulus Glandarius (Close Up)

Hello again! Thought I'd upload this image tonight. These birds are normally so very skittish, that the slightest noise/ movement has them taking flight. I was in a friends Hide recently doing the usual woodland birds, when this bold 'un arrived. Not having the versitility of a zoom, I was stummped. It was about 10ft from me, what a joy .I don't know what the reaction to this will be, but all comments are more than welcome please. Many thanks,
Paul Rosser.

Canon EOS 7D
Canon EF 400mm 'L' Plus 12mm Extension Tube.
f6.3
1/200 sec
ISO 200
@400mm
Full frame
Processed in CS5
(A little USM after resising only).

I really like this Paul, even though it is big in the frame there is plenty of space for the bird to look nto and the smooth backround really sets the bird off, lovely shot, well done

'm to nit-pick Paul the bird is ever so slightly angled away from the camera, and there's a little too much 'OoF' shoulder and wing in the frame - I assume it's there to include the bright coverts in the image.

Nice sharpness and a great BG, and looks like it's been well processed

there is to much oof shoulder like Andy said but love the detail in the head part and lovely colour

Hi Andy, Thanks for the comment/nits. I originally cropped this image on the RHS, to get rid of some shoulder, and place the eye directly on the third, but decided thst the colourfull coverts worked better! I was wrong then, Lol!
Regards,
Paul.

If he'd been facing a bit more towards you the inclusion of a more in focus shoulder would have looked great but....such is life.

Phil.

Would have to echo Andys comments here Paul, but wonder if a tighter crop of the BG my help and give more prominance, not that it needs much more Fantastic detail in the eye.

Steve

The oof shoulder doesn't worry me at all. The detail is in the eye where it should be and the inclusion of the blue wing coverts simply enhances the identity of the bird.

Would love to get this close to one Paul so well done. As nobody else as mentioned it it may be my screen but you say a little usm applied? Looks like it really didn't need any, especially around the neck area, that new lens is really sharp mate..

Lovely detail Paul. Never seen a Jay this close. Works for me.

cant make my mind up this one...

Works for me. The oof shoulder doesn't bother me. Great detail in the head part.

Hi Paul
I too can't quite make my mind up. Minor nits covered but its the colour that seems a little off to me. Maybe just the light.
Cheers
John

I'm drawn straight to the eye on this one so it works for me, fantastic detail there. A bit more of a head turn would have really made it stand out though.

Good looking head shot Paul, killer BG too.

Andy...