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Cactus Wren - AZ WC#722

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 7, 2016103 views9 comments

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: December 4, 2008, 9:20 am
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 320, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/250th @ f/6.3, -1/3^rd ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, crop = 75% of full frame

I first posted this back in December of 2008, but dug it out and tweaked it slightly for State Birds Challenge. For an unknown reason Cactus Wrens have become far less common in metro Phoenix, and it has been years since I’ve seen one at the Water Ranch.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please view the larger version for best detail.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 7, 2016 at 5:01 PM

I like this one. Large version shows those coarse wren feathers very well. The agave really adds a nice feature to this excellent image. devil

..............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 7, 2016 at 11:56 PM

Great shot and great habitat. I like that you've captured the insouciance ofthisspecies.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 8, 2016 at 8:57 AM

Love the perky pose (seems that all wrens show this) on that Agave leaf. You've got great details in both the bird and the leaf plus the color combo of blue leaf and green, nicely oof background work very well together. The details in the larger version are wonderful.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on February 8, 2016 at 10:11 AM

Nice. I like the agave perch.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on February 8, 2016 at 10:44 AM

Clean crisp shot, Rich. Good comp and nice graphic element with the agave. Background is nice and really pops the clarity of the bird.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 8, 2016 at 2:56 PM

Hi Richard crying

Love the fine detail, and perch...... especially the detail in the large version

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 8, 2016 at 4:06 PM

Well, since you shot it December 4th, it still qualifies as winter, Richard, or maybe Mark will give you a day's leeway. Great shot of the wren on a wonderful perch. Very well done.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on February 8, 2016 at 8:40 PM

To follow up on Dennis' comment: Photos of birds in an obvious winter setting, this is a problem for a lot of us. How far is your home from snow? For me, 2 hours. Kidding aside, this is a nice image with a sharp perch, great BG, superb color and a bird I've never seen in Washington.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on February 11, 2016 at 8:35 PM

Excellent! Like everything about it.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments