When its cold wet and gray

When the weather restricts activities I tend to look back at old efforts and learn from errors.

One species that I found to be a challenge was the Scissor Tailed Flycatcher always perched on a hideous wire which dominated the image. Often with a captured fly in its bill.

Canon 1D3 Canon 800mm 1/500sec ISO200 f/5.6 Distance from subject 17.2m

Critique, Advice or Comments most welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

Apparently throwing grass on the wire and adding a thin branch can entice them to perch on the branch. This is a bit too busy and small in the frame, the topmost branches above the bird are the culprets.

Neil

I see what you mean this was the alternative. Throwing grass and a branch 15ft up would have been a problem.

Ah, that kind of wire ;)

Barry i well understand where your coming from(Scissor Tailed Flycatcher always perched on a hideous wire which dominated the image. Often with a captured fly in its bill.) i stii prefer the first one with perhaps some of the top branches removed,just a thought.
Keith.

I prefer the first image. It is a bit busy but perhaps you should try to remove the branches in the background. Just a thought: try a pano crop. Might work better.

Thanks for the comments, it's all part of a birds environment I guess how much you include is another question, how much you remove in PP detracting from the original image yet another decision. Its all decisions and I'm undecided.

The first post appears busy Barry and Ithink the shape of the bird doesn't help as it is long and thin like the branches. However it is in its environment.

Nick.

The second one for me as the fly adds interest, and wire, is wire, is wire. An excellent minimalist image.

I agree with Neil here Barry, would love to see one of these one day!

Oscar