Acorn Woodpecker & Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted October 20, 2014165 views8 comments

There have been a pair of these frequenting a hole in an oak just outside my bedroom / office. In the past few days they have been disappearing into the hole and pulling out debris - what looks like old leaves. And they have been roosting in there as well. I see them go in around dusk, and never come out. I am thinking there is a false fall courtship going on. Similar photo periods as spring can trigger that in birds. Anyway, providing some nice photo opportunities with my window open. D800e, 300f4, 1.4tc, 1/400, f5.6, ISO 640. This image required quite a bit of manipulation, so I am very interested in your comments. I think the larger image will be a lot better for your judgment.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Charles Rose on October 21, 2014 at 12:15 AM

Jim,

You've done a super job of capturing the bird's personality. I like the comp and details.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 58 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 21, 2014 at 2:24 AM

Jim,
I am not at all familiar with this bird, but I think it could be a little too blue, i am basing this on the tree trunk., but it could just be my monitor.
Other than that a mighty fine mage

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 21, 2014 at 9:50 AM

Great comp & detail Jim.
How cool that you have this handsome bird right outside your office, perfect for observing its behavior..
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on October 21, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Excellent look at this woodpecker, Jim. You got a great eye contact and rest of the elements - light, comp, perch and background - work well. I notice the color tinge as well and it looks a tad over-sharpened, but they are easy fixes.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on October 21, 2014 at 6:40 PM

Very nice Jim, this reminds me of the downy I posted recently. I like the tree, background and of course the bird looks great. Details are sharp and well exposed.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on October 22, 2014 at 10:26 PM

Jim, its an autumn one night stand....I really like the way the background shows this guys colours. Good detail in the bird and tree.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 23, 2014 at 12:23 PM

Sweet capture of this cute species, Jim. I see a distinct blue tinges on my calibrated monitor, especially noticeably in the whites on the bird and the tree trunk.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on October 23, 2014 at 4:15 PM

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. I seem to have a great deal of difficulty seeing subtle hues (subtle to me anyway), in this case blue. I get this comment a lot, and I appreciate several of you pointing it out. I probably need a dedicated blue monitor person! Gary, I can now say it's at least an autumn three night stand!

I have included a new image, hopefully with the blues in order?

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments