Yellow Hammer

[JohnC]

I took this yesterday on my hill.

[paulster78]

Very nice against the blue sky John, great shot-how far away were you?

[Anton]

Nice capture John, he looks very content perched there even a twinkle in he’s eye.

Thanks

[markt]

That is very good! 

[JohnC]

 Thanks all - I thought you'd like it     .... bit of a cutey really. I have an App with bird songs so I'll listen to it . There were quite a few birds around and I  was focusing on a buzzard when it took off - they don't hang around and it flew off to a distant tree. It must have seen me, they have excellent eyesight. I went to photograph another sunset and had a blue pullover on  instead of my all green gear and my green lens cover too.

Paul - The YH was sitting on the top of a tree or high bush (I think it's hawthorn ) and I managed to get within20-25metres  of it. I took it at 1/2500 sec. at 5.6 ISO 250. It looks like a juvenile to me.  I was able to use a fence post as a  lens support too.

I also got a shot of a Gold Finch which I can't really post because it's sitting on barbed wire but only 10 paces away - what a shame. I walked past a bush and it was there right infront of me so it was a case of point and shoot quickly then it was off as it heard the shutter action.

Well, here it is....I've cropped as much of the wire out as possible.

[martinastro]

Cracking image John, the green feathers against the blue sky is striking, great capture 

[markt]

Excellent Goldfinch John!  I personally think the wire adds to the shot - maybe less crop to include his tail?  We've managed to attract goldfinches to our garden finally - they love nyjer seed...  We started off with a pair a couple of years ago, now this year there can be up to 8 at any one time... 

This year the sparrow hawk seems to be back after a couple of years absence - not good news for the other birds, but pretty to see him flying about...

[JohnC]

Thanks both. The colours are enhanced as you say,Martin due to the blue sky I'm sure, so I was lucky.

Mark--Unfortunately the bit of tail left was behind the barbed wire . I'll try again up there after the US trip. Here's the original-a bit cropped in but you can see the wire as it was where the bird was. I don't want to take the wire away and put a tree in like some would    infact a friend ,tongue in cheek and laughing suggested just that but that's not right . It's beyond my capability  in Photoshop anyway.