Show your Bird Portraits

This guy just kept 'walking' closer and closer to me--the experience reminds me how important reach is for those posting in this little corner of the 'net (details: 560mm [100-400II + 1.4III]; f9.5 + 1/350s + ISO 800) and catalyzes thoughts of picking up the R7 + 800mm f11 combination that is often touted here on CR.

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The above was treated with Topaz Sharpen.

Spring is trying to break out here in the midwest USA and the male Northern Cardinals are loud and quite visible in the immediate vicinity of our home (the location of virtually all posted here by yours truly)--but only ONE brief sighting of the (to my eye, the more beautiful) female Northern Cardinal.

On the rare occasion I head elsewhere for bird-watching etc., my frustration level rises rather quickly; birds in the wild and I seldom get close enough for decent images like the one posted above.

So it's time for another go-round with an adapted 1.4XIII/100-400II combination mated to the M6MkII/electronic viewfinder set-up--but this time with a nod to ergonomics:


I'm not holding my breath but the early returns are positive.
 
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Some more cute family goose pics.
The parents were quite nervous. And when I tried to get just a little bit closer, they went into the water at once.
I hope they will stay that careful. I've read that three goslings are at the lower end of an average clutch.

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Tawny Frogmouth

These guys use their natural camouflage to hide out during the day usually posed chin up to mimic a broken branch. A Eucalyptus tree is hard enough to spot them in, but in a Paper Bark tree (Melaleuca) they are almost impossible to spot.
And the plumage looks almost like there was too much sharpening done. (But I see, you didn't do that ;)
Such a camo for sure is hard to spot.
Great job @shire_guy
 
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And the plumage looks almost like there was too much sharpening done. (But I see, you didn't do that ;)
Such a camo for sure is hard to spot.
Great job @shire_guy

Thank you for your comments Maximilian.

That was a good pick up on the plumage, I messed up in post. I normally only apply a small amount of general contrast to the whole photo but one of the layers (mainly chest area) had the contrast slider pushed a long way over. That was an error that I should have picked up before posting.
I have re posted the image below.

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Robin photos from December I haven't processed yet.
I like the contrast with the snow. My usual setup:
5D4, 100-400L II + TC, @560 mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO3200
I am really happy that the details are so well even at that ISO level.
You can imagine from the first pic that it was f***ing cold that day (-14°C, 6°F)

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