A thirsty Buzzard

The hide was indeed very productive it provided a unique opportunity for me which will remain among the highlights in my little world of nature photography.

This does not detract from the fact that I'm still seeking critique,comments and advice in respect of my effort and how to improve. Thanks for looking.

Canon 1DX Canon 70-200mm f/3.2 1/2000sec 180mm ISO1000 RAW to Lightroom re-sized to post.

Looks like you had a great time, a lovely pose and action well caught, does look a little soft maybe don't crop so much, the shot would work great with space around it

I am no expert but is that not a Goshawk ?.
Bob.

Bob

I think you're right my error, thanks.

Looks like a male sparrowhawk Barry. Having looked at the larger post it looks as though the focus point is away from the head as it looks a little soft leaving the eye also soft. Phil has already mentioned it is a little tight I am guessing it might be a biggish crop? If you have more room I would try less of a crop and give the bird more space in front. Lovely pose.
Its lower beak looks a little odd Barry, is it deformed?

Nick.

Nick

It's water spilling over the lower beak coupled with movement but I thought there might be an indication of a small growth by the lower beak.

Barry
Do you mind saying where the last two shots were taken ?
No big deal if not.
Cheers
JohnR

Thanks Barry that thought did cross my mind but at 1/2000s I asumed it would prevent blurring.

Nick.

from the jizz ratio of eye size to head I would also put this as a Sparrowhawk rather than Goshawk

but not sure if taken in the UK or USA?

Location: Pusztaszer Hungary Bence Mate's farm

150 km south of Budapest.
So Eastern European

I would tend to go with MS on this.
Barry- have you got a garden. ? Or if not find a landowner and ask them if you can put a small pool in their land - somewhere as far away from a regular water source as possible.. Build a permanent hide.and stick a liner in. An hours work at the most. The beauty of that is that any pics you get - good or bad are YOURS . Your design etc,etc. Thats the rub. Don't let somebody else tell you how to take your pics Give the land owners a load of pics and you will get all the co operation you need. Dont,t put the pool too high though - you will get awful reflections
You have some cracking stuff on your web, Why did'nt you post them ?
Cheers

JR

Barry
Thanks
I thought it was.
Do you realise how many thousands of people have been in that hide and done the same things ?? They are all so recognisable
Be yourself !
A meagre pic of a sparrow in a puddle is yours - and surely thats worth all the money in the world - -or maybe not ?
Cheers
JR

John

Whilst in the UK we are in an apartment on the seafront in Eastbourne. Somewhat restrictive. I tend to post the problem images I'm keen to know where and why I went wrong?

I only post my images so the flack stops with me.

John

I beg to differ, they don't screw them up like I do.

I personally feel that it is the end result that counts. If someone wants to go to a well known set up or a tried and tested safari trip or wildlife park that is their choice. I have never heard of this place and assumed it was taken in the UK. Now that I know......so what?

Nick.

Hi Barry, this image looks really quite dark and one simple action in PS illustrates the point well, it also shows that the file has an untagged profile which may also give a tad more saturation to the image. I will drop you a line.

Cheers
Steve

All nits and recognition covered Barry. Wherever it was taken its still a smart picture

Bob

Only nit is darkness. I agree that shots taken in commercial hides can be the same as others but we cannot all have access to land, or access and the right to build... so we do what we can. I also go with Sparrow hawk, the last shot was the buzzard ;)

Neil
When I said "permanent hide " I didn't mean a Bence or Gigrin type - just 4 broom handles and a bit of sacking and leave it there

Thing is John you can't always do that, certainly not here where I live as most land is fully accessible by the public...fields, meadows, forest, woods... all of it. The other side is also having time to invest, either building a water feature / feeder setup and maintaining it. I do it but maybe I should not, I get up really early before work to feed the birds in winter in a small clearing in the forest where not footpaths come close. The hunters are probably the only people who find my feeders but as long as I don't bother them they leave me be, even help me sometimes. I cannot leave my hide there (no really it would be counted as a building...) so feed and leave and rely on my popup jobbie. Now if I lived in Munich and not 20 miles outside I would be stuffed, feeding would take a couple of hours, not 10 minutes. So I would be late for work, my daughter late to school.... etc... I wish it was as easy as 4 broom handles.

So I do sympathize with photographers who use commercial hides, it is a means to an end. It is also a good way of guaranteeing saleable images if you are into that.

Nits covered, but must have been great to be so close to one of these, Barry.

Andy...

Barry I would say you are very close to a great image with this just my take on it but I do like this type of shot a think with a bit of Tec help that i's sure Steve will give you all will be fine.

Keith.